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Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a serious problem, which occurs in many countries. In recent

years, domestic violence or family violence has been recognized as a serious problem

globally and one which not only has many harmful effects on family members but is also

"expensive for women, the community and the nation". The only real common denominator

is that the vast majority of its victims are women because of few causes. Cambodia has been

dominated by war for more than two decades, and its regimes have changed many times. This

has resulted in an unstable social structure, economic slowdown and shortcomings in the field

of education. These are factors adversely causing domestic violence. In Cambodia, people are

not really interested in this problem because they always think that “plates in a basket will

rattle”, meaning domestic conflicts happen inevitably. Many Cambodians think that domestic

violence is normal. As a result, domestic violence or family violence is a serious problem that

effects on family, community, and nation by many causes such as, the low education,

poverty, unemployment, drink, gambling, cinema, mass media, and sex.

First of all, domestic violence is caused by the low education. Domestic Violence

happens almost in every family especially in the area where people are low educated and no

access to information. Domestic Violence is one of Violence against Women forms. There

are many cases of domestic violence publishing on newspapers everyday and mostly women

are victims. There are many reasons behind domestic violence such as drunk and bad temper

of husband and so on. There are some researches mentioned that domestic violence suffered

from gender-base violence which was implemented during Khmer Rouge regime. Domestic

Violence was and probably still considered as family affairs which has nothing to do with law

and rights. People mostly not had a willingness to report to local authority or provide

consultant since they think it is their family problem. In fact, domestic violence is a crime

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regarding to Domestic Violence law. Because of code of conduct for women and Cambodian

tradition and culture, domestic violence become a silent crime and causes a deeply suffering

in most of Cambodian women’s heart. Without access to education, information and help

service, women keep silent and think that it is their sin and there is no way besides accept it.

Domestic violence not only destroys the family harmony but also the children’s future.

Children see their father use violence as a normal behavior and usable to their future

wife/husband and children. Moreover, domestic violence might even because the children to

drop out from school since their mother couldn’t afford the family income alone.

Second, poverty effects on domestic violence. Poverty is a big factor in many cases of

domestic violence. The pressure of a job loss; no jobs available and perhaps losing a person's

home or bills piling in is a great deal of pressure. People that are rich poor; different races can

have domestic violence in their home. The person who is the abuser is generally a product of

their environment.

Third, unemployment effects on domestic violence in Cambodia. An extensive 2004

report by the National Institute of Justice found that the rate of violence against women

increases as male unemployment increases. When a woman's male partner is employed, the

rate of violence is 4.7 percent. It's 7.5 percent when the male experiences one period of

unemployment. It's 12.3 percent when the male experiences two or more periods of

unemployment.

Fourth, Domestic violence or family violence is a serious problem that effects on

family, community, and nation by cause drink alcohol or drug, The relationship between

alcohol or other substance abuse and domestic violence is complicated. A prevailing myth

about domestic violence is that alcohol and drugs are the major causes of domestic abuse. In

reality, some abusers rely on substance use (and abuse) as an excuse for becoming violent.

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Alcohol allows the abuser to justify his abusive behavior as a result of the alcohol. While an

abuser’s use of alcohol may have an effect on the severity of the abuse or the ease with which

the abuser can justify his actions, an abuser does not become violent “because” drinking

causes him to lose control of his temper. As described more fully in the section on theories of

violence, domestic violence is used to exert power and control over another; it does not

represent a loss of control. Alcohol does affect the user’s ability to perceive, integrate and

process information. This distortion in the user’s thinking does not cause violence, but may

increase the risk that the user will misinterpret his partner or another’s behavior.

Fifth, the gambling also effects on domestic violence in Cambodia. The gambling

often leads to domestic violence because when they play gambling, they need more money,

so they must pay money to play it. However, they have enough money to play, so they do

violent against their wife in order to take money to play gambling.

Sixth, cinema and mass media are also affected on domestic violence because Violent

Movie, Play boy or Ma fear Movie. Can make some people feel to do like. I always saw some

play boy or men (husbands) that lived in Phnom Penh and also rural were talking about

Violent Movie such as Play boy or Ma fear Movie in China or USA movie. After, they

watched these movies already; they always practiced to fight wife or children.

The last cause, it is sex. Why do I think like that? Because sex is the kind of violence

including domestic or publish violence, it mean that when men or husbands want to sex with

their partners or wives, they must force in order to rap also.

Conclusion, Domestic violence is a serious problem in Cambodia, either in urban

areas or in rural areas. The domestic violence occurred between two parties (husband and

wife) or three parties (husband, first wife, and step-wife) and between other members in the

family and self-violence (suicide). The cases that occurred most often in the data are abuses

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between husband and wife. In my opinion, I think that we must stop domestic violence or

family violence because it effects to develop community or country.

Reference:

1. Nakagawa Kasumi (2006) “More than white cloth”.

2. Dr.Hean Sokhom (April1999) “The Portrayal of Domestic violence in Cambodian

Newspapers”.

3. http://sokhayouk.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/domestic_violence/

4. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_poverty_cause_domestic_violence_Or_does_d

omestic_violence_cause_poverty#ixzz3sW2wEzRe

5. http://www.examiner.com/unemployment-in-rochester/unemployment-s-relationship-

to-domestic-violence-and-alternatives-for-battered-women-rochester#ixzz3sW1KFE4