Introduction:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Picture this: In the suburbs, a man kills his wife and then turns the gun on
himself. Picture the police being called to the hospital to investigate an
elderly woman with a fractured hip after being pushed down by her adult
son. Picture a teenage girl is punched in the stomach by her ex-boyfriend
in the hallway at school. Each of these events raise the same question.
Could this tragedy of events been permitted?
Today I will inform you on domestic violence upon women in not only
Kalamazoo, but around the world as well.
According to the Kalamazoo County Government, domestic violence is a
violent confrontation between family or household members involving
physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm. This cycle of
violence begins with the build up of tension where voices are raised and
threats are made. 85% of those attacks are inflicted on women.
You will learn about how women are affected, the impact that domestic
violence has, and how local organizations are working to prevent this act
of violence.
Body:
I.
Every 9 seconds a woman has faced domestic violence.
A. According to the “Duke Journal of Gender Law and Policy”, threats
toward an intimate or former intimate may be an attempt to control her,
and ultimately coerce her to remain in or return to the relationship.
1. According to the 2010 National intimate partner and sexual violence
survey, one in three women in the U.S. will experience rape, physical
violence or stalking by an intimate partner at some time in her life.
2. Estimates of 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an
intimate partner each year.
B. According to the National coalition against domestic violence, domestic
violence is one of the most chronologically underreported crimes.
1. Women fear that if they speak out about the assault they will face
either serious injuries or death by the person committing the attack.
2. Approximately only one-quarter of all physical assaults against
females by intimate partners are reported to the police.
Transition: Not only does domestic violence have an impact on women, but on those
around them and their daily life styles as well.
II.
Approximately 20% of the 1.5 Million people who experience intimate
partner violence annually obtain civil protection orders.
A. Studies show that children who witness domestic violence will develop
this violent behavior.
1. The NCADV reports that boys who witness domestic violence are
twice as likely to abuse their partners and children when they become
adults.
2. 30 to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse
children in the household.
B. Domestic violence also has an economic impact.
1. The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $ 5.8 billion each year, $
4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services.
2. Reports show that over 16,000 homicides and $ 2.2 million injuries are
due to intimate partner violence annually, which cost $37 billion in
total.
Transition: For every problem there is always a solution for how incidents can be
prevented.
III.
There are several local resources available in Kalamazoo.
A. According to the YWCA of Kalamazoo, they provide a local anti-violence
service that provides support for abused men and women.
1. They provide a confidential shelter for abused women in not only the
Kalamazoo area but in Michigan as well.
2. Through this organization the victims also receive non-judgmental
crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, and supports and the cost of
this is free to all domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.
B. In bringing awareness to domestic violence every October is Domestic
Violence Awareness month.
1. As a way to connect with the community many organizations come
together to spread awareness about this issue.
2. This year’s theme was “LOVE” because young people between the
ages of 16 and 24 experience domestic violence at the highest rates.