Addressing The Types Of Gender Inequality Around The World (2): Domestic Violence

'Despite the fact that domestic violence appears to be frequent practically everywhere, it is also one of the most underreported offences' [Anna Alvazzi del Frate & Angela Patrignani (1995). Women's Victimisation In Developing Countries, Issues & Reports No 5]. Regardless of the fact that it has existed since the beginning of societies, it is a savage act that remains committed in every facet of life as we know it. The effects of domestic violence are tremendous. 'Women are victims of incest, rape and domestic violence that often lead to trauma, physical handicap or death' [United Nations Department of Public Information (1996). United Nations Report on Violence Against Women]. Female victims are emotionally scarred, their trust for their partners as they knew it permanently broken, leaving the union never to find its initial strength ever again. Children growing up in households where this happens are psychologically affected, they tend become aggressive, develop apathy towards the male head of the house and often struggle to fully contribute to family life afterward. I should know because I experienced it and am still dealing with some of the issues. Domestic violence thus ruins families, creating communities of social instability. Environments in which the act is widely accepted typically exhibit apparent traits of chauvinism, lack of empathy and a high decline of moral values. It is not surprising then that people of such areas are mostly irritable, short-tempered, emotionally retarded amongst other negative characteristics. Domestic violence has classically been portrayed to be present in middle and lower classes of economically developed countries and in virtually all strata of societies across the rest of the world. Accordingly, it is not unusual to have believed (and often still do) that 'the rich don't cry', meaning that financially well off people don't suffer from the specific gender inequality. Thanks to the socio-cultural institutionalization of show business across many parts of the world, high profile incidents of domestic violence have lately been and increasingly continue to be widely exposed by the media. What was once an affair behind closed doors, is now ruthlessly exploited by the paparazzi for the seemingly unquenchable thirst of the masses, eagerly anticipative of the next (celebrity) scandal. While 'Mother Nature' comic strip (clearly) does not intend to glamorize domestic violence, the idea behind it is to exemplify the dilemma in the opulent parts of society, everyday people may still deem such menace to be unfathomable. In the swanky ambiance of a boulevard in Beverly Hills, a group of financially buoyant, middle-aged women having brunch, are presented to a horrific occurrence of domestic violence to one of their best friends. The looks on the faces of the victim's girlfriends symbolizing the very disbelief so many of us still suffer from. References: United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute http://www.unicri.it/documentation_centre/publications/issues/r5.php United Nations Report on Violence Against Womens http://un.org/rights/dpi1772e.htm