Running head: THE IMPORTANCE OF SHELTERS FOR BATTERED WOMEN
The Importance of Shelters for Battered Women
Lyssa Farrell
CHHS 340: Conflict Resolution and Collaborative Negotiation
California State University Monterey Bay
December 4, 2014
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The Importance of Shelters for Battered Women
It is late in the night and the neighbors next door are going at it again. The husband is
yelling at his wife and things start to get physical. The woman is crying for him to stop and
finally has the chance to make a break for it. She comes running up to the house next door
banging, banging, banging. What is a good neighbor supposed to do? It is not your business to
get involved but you cannot exactly turn her away – after all, she came running to you for help.
She has nowhere to go and no one else to call on. If you offer help and guidance, it could cause
awkward situations in the future. If you do nothing at all, you might have a guilty conscience. If
she had a place to turn to like a shelter for battered women, no one would have to get involved in
the domestic situation. It is essential to have shelters for abused women within the community.
These shelters provide support, legal help, services for the children, health related services, and
financial assistance (Smith & Segal, 2014). Not only do shelters for battered women provide
support for the victims, they also benefit the community as a whole. The safe haven of these
shelters save the community money and educate the community about domestic abuse.
Domestic violence is a phenomenon that is typically kept in the dark for many different
reasons. Victims of domestic violence experience a range of abuse that includes, “physical abuse,
threats, emotional abuse, sexual assault or stalking” (Litten, 2014, p.17). A lot of these victims
have no place to turn to for fear of embarrassment, lack of financial support, love for the abuser,
and many other profound reasons. With the support of a shelter for battered women in the
neighborhood, these women would have a place to turn to when things get out of hand. Every
city should have a shelter for victims of domestic abuse because this is an occurrence that is
happening to more people than possibly imagined, “1 in 4 women will experience domestic
violence during her lifetime” (“Domestic violence: Statistics & facts,” 2014). The statistic of
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domestically abused women is quite alarming and as a community we should be doing
everything possible to help these women. A good neighbor minds their own business, so it is best
not to get involved in domestic disputes with the couple next door. A shelter would allow for a
more peaceful neighborhood because the dispute would be defused with the comfort of turning to
the shelter in extreme situations.
Shelters for battered women are becoming more prominent as the years progress. The
women’s movement of the 1970s defines, “violence against children and wives (and partners in
unmarried unions) as battering, a form of illegitimate and illegal abuse, and provided alternatives
such as shelters for women attempting to flee such attacks” (Wies, 2008, p.221). With the
development of these shelters throughout the years, women have been given the opportunity at a
second chance. Shelters for battered women have provided a safe haven because, “domestic
violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families, according to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development” (“Domestic violence: Statistics & facts,”
2014). Without these shelters, we would see more women and children on the streets. It is
beneficial for the community (socially and economically speaking) to have these shelters in place
for women and children that need somewhere to stay.
Many women stay in abusive relationships because they are financially dependent on
their abuser. They do not have the option to leave or at the very least, they think they cannot
afford to leave. The financial burden of domestic violence affects not only the victim, but the
community as well. In cases where legal action has taken place, “domestic violence costs more
than $37 billion a year in law enforcement involvement, legal work, medical and mental health
treatment, and lost productivity at companies” (“Domestic violence: Statistics & facts,” 2014). If
legal action could be avoided with the help of shelters the community would save a lot of money.
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Millions could be saved with the support of shelters, “the minimum net social benefit of the
domestic violence shelter program is $3,494,934” (S. Chanley, J. Chanley, & Campbell, 2001,
p.395). The money that could be saved from providing these shelters could be put to better use
within the community.
In cases where children are exposed to domestic violence, there is a frightening statistic
of repeating the behavior. If no help is offered or sought, “ girls who witness domestic violence
are more vulnerable to abuse as teens and adults… boys who witness domestic violence are far
more likely to become abusers of their partners and/or children as adults, thus continuing the
cycle of violence in the next generation” (“Domestic violence: Statistics & facts,” 2014). For the
sake of the children within the community, these shelters are essential to help end the cycle of
violence. The more the community is aware and educated about domestic violence, the less
likely it is to occur or continue occurring. Everyone wants to live in a safe community and if
shelters for battered women make the community a safer place to live, supporters will pop up at
the chance to make the change.
Every city should have a shelter for battered women. Victims of abuse need a support
system because, “lack of social support played a significant role in the women’s negative
psychological functioning… many women in battering relationships have few social supports
due to the controlling aspect of the battering relationship” (Levendosky & Graham-Bermann,
2001, p.187). Some might argue that shelters for battered women bring a bad name to the
community because we like to think abuse is not happening in our neighborhood. Without these
support systems, abuse will continue to fly under the radar and the cycle will continue. We need
shelters for battered women because it brings the community together to end the cycle of
domestic abuse and the support provides hope for a brighter future.
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To the Editor,
I am writing you to bring awareness of domestic violence within the community and how
important it is that a shelter for battered women be established in the city of Monterey,
California. Not only is domestic violence a major public health problem within our community,
it is also a problem throughout our country. Taking action to develop and open up a shelter for
battered women in the city of Monterey is beneficial for the community as a whole. All the
neighboring cities have shelters for women suffering domestic violence – why should the
citizens of Monterey be exempt of this privilege? I am aware that Monterey has more of an
upscale name to the city, but domestic violence takes place in all cities. Now is the time to open
a shelter in the city of Monterey for those women who have nowhere to go in that region.
Bringing awareness of domestic abuse in the city of Monterey is beneficial to all
civilians. Educating the community about abuse will help people recognize the signs of an abuser
and allow them to get out early before they are “stuck” in a violent situation that could hurt them
physically, mentally, emotionally, financially – the list goes on. As a community we can help
those people that are victims of abuse get out before it is too late. These victims need a support
system to back them up and it is up to our community to make a change for the better.
Please take this proposal seriously. The future of our community depends on these
support systems to end the cycle of violence learned in the home. Children who are exposed to
violence are more likely to repeat the cycle as they grow up. The more knowledge and support
offered in this area can save the lives of many people and make the community a safer and
happier place to live.
Sincerely,
Lyssa Farrell
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References
Chanley, S., Chanley, J., & Campbell, H. (2001). Providing refuge: The value of domestic
violence shelter services. The American Review of Public Administration, 31(4), 393-413.
Domestic
violence:
statistics
&
facts.
(2014).
Retrieved
from
http://www.safehorizon.org/page/domestic-violence-statistics--facts-52.html
Levendosky, A., & Graham-Bermann, S. (2001). Parenting in battered women: The effects of
domestic violence on women and their children. Journal of Family Violence [H.W.
Wilson - SSA], 16(2), 171.
Litten, H. (2014). Domestic violence. Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great
Britain): 1987), 28(32), 19.
Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2014). Help for abused and battered women. Retrieved from
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/help-for-abused-and-battered-women.htm
Wies, J. (2008). Professionalizing human services: A case of domestic violence shelter
advocates. Human Organization, 67(2), 221-233.