Lesson #GP38: Domestic Violence Awareness

Domestic Violence is a “gender” crime, a crime wherein most “victim/survivors” are female and the majority of perpetrators (or people who commit the crime) are male. Women, and often children, are in great danger in the place where they should feel safest, within their own homes, and at the hands of those with whom they should feel safest, their family members. Women’s fear of violence contributes to their decision-making and actions, hence furthering this type of violence, leading to the continued control of women and maintenance of an imbalance in power between men and women within societies.

Unfortunately, the beliefs of society affect the way in which domestic violence is handled. These beliefs, held by many people, may or may not be true. They may be dangerous not only because they mask the true nature of the domestic violence problem, but also because they sustain the stereotypes about male and female relationships and give legitimacy to this behaviour.

This lesson will address these issues in order to heighten awareness of the KPS officer toward domestic violence as a crime.

The goal of this lesson is to provide students with an understanding of the crime of domestic violence in all its aspects: definitions, associated myths, possible causes, and the Cycle of Violence. Students will also learn of the means by which society, and especially the KPS, can overcome resistance to the incidence of Domestic Violence.

At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Define the term Domestic Violence as described in the lesson.
2. State at least five (5) facts which challenge the myths concerning domestic violence according to the lesson.
3. List the factors that can perpetuate unequal gender relationships as stated in the lesson.
4. List the six (6) phases of violence within the Cycle of Violence based on the figure.
5. Identify the four (4) basic levels of resistance that people, organisations and society have toward recognising the incidence and impact of Domestic Violence as explained in the lesson.