This document discusses the role of advocates in assisting abused women, who are considered a special population. It notes that abused women experience emotional, physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Advocates need to fight for improved laws and enforcement around restraining orders, increase housing and medical resources for victims, and push for longer jail times for abusers to help break the cycle of abuse. Overall, the advocate's role is to support abused women and help them gain independence, safety, and resources as they leave abusive situations.
2. SPECIFIC POPULATION AND THE ADVOCATE ROLE 2
Specific Population and the Advocate Role
Special population is a term with different meanings, depending on the area of
occurrence. It can best be describes as a group of people who are at some type of disadvantage.
Advocates are the voice of special populations. Abused women are a type of special population.
It is a special population which needs attention. Abused women and men have rights and need
our help to overcome their situations. This paper will address the role of an advocate and how
they can assist the special population of abused women.
Abused Women
Abused women are a special population which can include emotional, mental, physical,
and sexual abuse. “Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced
into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury
to women. Statistics says every 9 seconds a female is beaten or sexually assaulted,” (Domestic
Violence Statistics, 2012).These results prove abused women need an advocate to fight for them
and their rights. Even though the number of men who are abuse victims is low there is still a
need for assistance on their behalf. The gender should not be a separate issue but a united answer
to assist the victims.
Restraining orders are issued to protect victims of abuse. They are supposed to ease the
mind and lift burdens off of the victim’s shoulders. Yet they do not. “The National Violence
Against Women found that approximately one-half of the protection orders women took out
against males were known to have been violated and nearly one-third of the orders men had
against women were basically ignored,” (Charles E. Corry, 2012).
Advocacy, actively supporting verbally or aiding others, is needed to assist abused
women. The first thing which needs to be changed is the laws surrounding restraining orders.
3. SPECIFIC POPULATION AND THE ADVOCATE ROLE 3
Victims need to feel safe and secure so he or she would feel comfortable reporting and following
through with charges against those who abused them. The laws which are in place do little to
actually protect women. A person can harass their victims and the law does little to back up the
restraining orders. When someone breaks a restraining order they need to be taken immediately
into custody. There should be some type of punishment to those who break the restraining
orders. Whether it is jail time, steeper probation time or a fine, some punishment needs to be
rendered to those who break restraining orders. Maybe if there is some type of punishment for
breaking the restraining order less abusers will break them.
Housing is another issue which needs to be advocated on behalf of abused women. Many victims
of abuse become homeless in their pursuit to freedom. There are not enough shelters to house
the millions of abusers. “Lack of affordable housing and long waiting listsfor assisted housing
mean that many women and their children are forced to choose betweenabuse at home or life on
the streets. Moreover, shelters are frequently filled to capacity and mustturn away battered
women and their children. An estimated 29% of requests for shelter byhomeless families were
denied in 2006 due to lack of resources,” (Domestic Violence and Homelessness, 2012). There
needs to more housing for the victims of abuse. It would be nice if more abandoned buildings in
cities could be transformed to shelters. This way eyesore could be turned into shelter for those in
need.
Shelters are doing all they can to keep up with the demand of safe housing. More grants need to
be obtained to assist shelters with short and long term medical assistance. Also, clinics and
hospitals could pro bono some services to the victims. Victims would be able to get medical
attention and doctors, clinics, and hospitals could get tax right off for their assistance. Domestic
abuse cost the United States in excess of 5.8 billion dollars a year, (Domestic Violence Statistics,
4. SPECIFIC POPULATION AND THE ADVOCATE ROLE 4
2012). A program which would include past victims who are nurses, doctors, or medical staff
could assist with short term care. They can go to shelters and assist victims there. Long term care
could be done by clinics and hospitals. Using past victims of abuse could show the victims they
can make it. It would be encouragement to victims to try and not give up and let their
perpetrators win.
Victims of abuse should not be looked down upon whether they are men or women. Even though
there are fewer men who are victims they should not be looked down upon. After being abused
victims self-worth and self-esteem is very low. Counseling programs need to be set up to assist
victim’s work through their negative outlook. Feeling and being treated as normal is something
victims want. When people pity them or try to do everything for them they are doing an injustice.
Helping them get back on their feet and living a productive life should be everyone’s goal. The
reason it should be everyone’s goal is because everyone needs some type of help or assistance.
Programs which assist with professional attire, interview and job skills, and transportation need
to be in place in every city. Those who were not able to complete school should not feel as if
they have to work in fast food restaurants for the rest of their lives. GED courses should be more
accessible. Libraries, shelters, and even school districts be able to accommodate GED classes.
Grants are available to fund these programs and advocates can work with grant writers to get
programs started.
Domestic violence perpetrators need to face stiffer penalties and punishment. “Someone
commits animal abuse and it lands them in jail for at least 6 to 12 months or more. If a man beats
his wife, he's generally off the hook or at least out on probation in no time at all,” (Daughety,
2009). Advocators need to fight for longer jail time. This way the perpetrator will be less likely
to berepeat offenders.
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Abused women are a special population which needs more support from advocators. There is
a number of areas an advocator can assist the special population of abused women. Whether it is
housing, education, medical assistance, or counseling abusers have the right to be more secure
and free from their abusers. More protection such as more jail time and less probation is needed
to assist in the battle and break the cycle of abuse. With millions of victims the time is now to
support the many men and women of abuse.
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References
Domestic Violence and Homelessness. (2012). Retrieved July 30, 2012, from National Coalition
for the Homeless: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/domestic.pdf
Domestic Violence Statistics. (2012). Retrieved July 29, 2012, from Domesitc Violence
Statistics: http://domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-statistics/
Charles E. Corry, P. (2012, July 28). Protection Orders Do Not Protect . Retrieved July 29,
2012, from Equal Justice Foundation: http://www.dvmen.org/dv-14.htm
Daughety, A. (2009, July 3). Domestic Violence - Crime and Unjust Punishment. Retrieved July
30, 2012, from Ezine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?Domestic-Violence---Crime-and-
Unjust-Punishment&id=2562407
