Celeste Ortiz

English 113B
Professor Derohanesssian
14 February 2015
Witness
Throughout the world there is a known issue that continues today called domestic
violence. According to the Oxford English Dictionary domestic violence is a violent or
aggressive behavior within the home, abuse of a partner.The first thing that may pop up into
ones mind can be the image of physical abuse. Yes, there are many cases where domestic
violence is happening physically, but not in this case. Not all domestic violence is physical
though. Domestic violence can also be mental, sexual and verbal. During these type of situation
the focus is on the victim that is suffering from domestic violence. The care of those who witness
it or hear about it does not seem like a priority. In most cases children of the victim witness these
things and are in trouble as well. Domestic violence should be stopped not only because its
wrong but because it is against the law, but that it can have negative effects on the children being
involved.
As stated in the article Prevalence and Effects of Child Exposure to Domestic Violence
by author John Fantuzzo Domestic violence seriously threatens the health and emotional well
being of children indicating that it is a problem that is not address and it should be because a
childs health and future is on the line. Being a witness to someone especially a parent or parent
figure being abused can cause the child/ children to build up anger within themselves. Similar to
Fantuzzos statement, Betsy Groves states that the children are affected emotionally being
unstable and unable to adjust. She states this in her article called Mental Health Services for

Those Who Witness Domestic Violence. She argues that the children are like this because of
their experiences of being exposed to domestic violence and not being able to help, being
threatened and feeling hopeless (Groves 123). Meanwhile the abusiveness is happening with the
children witnessing, the so called suspect might see the child as fundamental object toward
getting apprehended. This can cause the suspect to imperil the child with threats to the livfe of
the victim and their own as well, leaving him/her scared with the idea that keeping quiet about
what they witnessed is the best idea. According to the website thehouseofruthdorthan.org the
most frequent used line is Tell and Ill kill you. Most children who go through this feel
ashamed, scared or embarrassed to let someone of whats going on or what happened because
theyre afraid to let someone in or are scared of judgment (Groves 124). If the parent leaves from
the abusive relationship and enter shelters which for woman are called battered woman shelters,
services are offered to the woman and child. Even with the services offered for children who
witness or are involved in domestic violence like counseling or therapists it is hard for children
to come out with their emotions. The goals for these services are for the child to forget about
their experience and for them not to base their lives on those effects (Groves 125). Therapists try
to help them forget by stating the obvious that some parents fight and others actions are not their
fault (Groves 125).
Besides being emotionally affected, some kids might think what theyre witnessing is
okay and can impact their lives by being abusive as well. In Marina Rosas article titled The
Hidden Victims of Domestic Violence she states that history of violence is one of the greatest
predicators of juvenile delinquency. Anger builds and children attack things like people,
animals, property and themselves. Because of their actions due to their anger depression and the
sense of feeling of numb plays a role (Rosa 1). According to domesticviolencestatistics.org men

who as children witness domestic violence are twice likely to become abusers. These actions are
not genetic nor run in ones blood causing one to act a certain way. This statement connects
with Fanuzzos expanding how health and emotions are affected.
Although one may argue that it is normal for children to act out after witnessing domestic
violence, it is not okay. Aggressive actions can lead to something like suicide or death of another.
Kristin Anderson argues in her articled Domestic Violence, Personal Control, and Gender that
control connects to domestic violence. Being a victim, a witness or the abuser, control still falls
under those categories. Having personal control can prevent actions of feeling unstable or
abusive. An example Anderson gives of personal control is how their emotions can affect their
future, whether one wants to be poor or not its a decision of their own to make knowing the
consequences of good and bad.
In conclusion to domestic violence, children are negatively affected but actions should be
taken as soon as possible before situations get worse. Children get out of control with anger
within themselves for feeling useless, in others because of envy. Help is offered to those who
witness it and fall under the category of victim. Victims, who are usually the mothers who have
children, need to leave the abuse relationship for not only themselves but for the children. Health
concerns, emotional concerns and others are in danger. Not every child forgets and keeps what
they have experienced in the past. Events like that stay in a childs life affecting their everyday
life and actions.

Work cited
revalence and Effects of Child Exposure to Domestic Violence
John W. Fantuzzo and Wanda K. Mohr
The Future of Children
Vol. 9, No. 3, Domestic Violence and Children (Winter, 1999) , pp. 21-32
Published by: Princeton University
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1602779
Mental Health Services for Children Who Witness Domestic Violence
Betsy McAlister Groves
The Future of Children
Vol. 9, No. 3, Domestic Violence and Children (Winter, 1999) , pp. 122-132
Published by: Princeton University
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1602786

Domestic Violence, Personal Control, and Gender

Debra Umberson, Kristin Anderson, Jennifer Glick and Adam Shapiro
Journal of Marriage and Family
Vol. 60, No. 2 (May, 1998) , pp. 442-452
Published by: National Council on Family Relations
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/353860

http://domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-statistics/
http://marinarosa.hubpages.com/hub/CHILDREN---THE-HIDDEN-VICTIMS-OF-DOMESTICVIOLENCE