In 2005, Violence Against Women is Still a Problem: What Congress is Doing

Every day in the United States, four women are murdered by their husbands and boyfriends. That’s approximately 1,400 women every year, according to the FBI. And each year one million women are victims of assault by intimate partners, according to the most conservative estimate by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Other studies say it’s as many as four million women are victims of domestic violence each year. You may be one of these women, or know one of them.

To address this harrowing issue, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and update it to include a new deputy director in the Office on Violence Against Women who would work to stop domestic violence on Native American reservations. The bill would also extend the duration of visas for battered immigrant women.

Controversial amendment

A somewhat unrelated amendment to the bill, adopted by voice vote and offered by Jon Kyl (R- Arizona), would allow authorities to take DNA samples from suspects charged with federal crimes. The DNA records would be added to a national database.

This amendment is expected to draw quite an argument when it hits the Senate floor. Democrats are concerned that it’s a violation of privacy, so Senator Dianne Feinstein (California) offered a compromise to limit the DNA collections to violent offenders only. Her proposal was rejected by the committee 8-10.

By adding this amendment to VAWA, Republicans put Democrats in the tough position of either voting against a bill that protects women and children or voting for an amendment that they believe violates the right to privacy.

Effects of VAWA

Since VAWA was first passed in 1994, the rate of domestic violence has declined by 59 percent and the rate of rape and sexual assault has declined by 68 percent.

The legislation provides federal grants to communities to help them respond to violence against women. The funds go to training police officers and hospital workers, enforcing protection orders, establishing and maintaining battered women’s shelters and counseling services, and creating transitional housing for victims.

Some Republican groups of women, such as Concerned Women for America, believe that much of VAWA’s funding ends up supporting "anti-men programs."

Perhaps this sentiment influenced the Senate to allow men to qualify for program benefits under the bill.

VAWA for men

Everyone believes that male victims of domestic violence should receive the help and services they need. But the problem of domestic violence does not equally affect men and women, as some suggest.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 90 to 95 percent of domestic violence victims are women. Further, much domestic violence against men perpetrated by women is self defense, according to the National Resource Council and Institute of Medicine.

It is unclear if VAWAs new provision will give gay men access to services, although domestic violence occurs within same-sex relationships with the same statistical frequency as in heterosexual relationships.

Women against VAWA

Although legislators on both sides of the aisle agree that VAWA is a good policy, some American women would like to see it repealed.

Along with Concerned Women for America, Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum believes that VAMA money goes straight into the hands of radical feminists who are "anti-marriage" and "anti-male."

While many women who run programs for domestic violence victims probably are feminists, it is a misconception that most feminists are anti-marriage and anti-male. Author and theorist bell hooks explains in her book, Feminism is for Everybody, that "feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression." She identifies sexist thought and behavior to be the problem (and both women and men can be sexist), not men. In fact, hooks invites men to join in the movement.

Violence against women is extreme sexist behavior, and a symptom of sexist thoughts and beliefs. Yet VAWA does very little to address these issues. The bill does not fund education and prevention programs, or research the cause of domestic violence.

Is it worthwhile to try to stop domestic violence before it starts? Do you think VAWA is a good use of taxpayer dollars? What else should be done to address domestic violence?

VAWA has yet to be reauthorized by the House and Senate. Whatever your beliefs, contact your representatives and let them know how you feel, click here.

What do you think?

WomenMatter is a place to discuss life issues with other women. We don’t want to wedge women apart, but rather bring them together to dialogue. To participate in our blog, click here.

WomenMatter encourages women to educate themselves on the issues and then approach their representatives with ideas.

Your voice is vital. Make sure your leaders know what’s important to you. To see how your representatives vote and to contact them, click here.

WomenMatter is dedicated to empowering women to participate in the political process. To do this we have invested in the most in-depth NONPARTISAN information, because we trust each woman to make up her own mind.

• We track nine issues every week and update this website several times a week. .
• We launch after school GirlsMatter Clubs in middle and high schools to grow the next generation of politically aware women through a full curriculum and startup kit on girlsmatter.com.
• We do continuous research to make sure that we are meeting the needs of women across the country of all ages, races, incomes, preferences, and religions. .
• We provide partnerships with nonpartisan organizations that provide services to women and advocate for them. .

We offer all our services free of charge without memberships or subscriptions. To help us maintain this work - not just in election years but as a continuing part of women’s lives - please make a tax deductible donation, click here.

Update Posted on: 9/16/2005