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NASW
Policy Statements
Women’s Issues
Violence against women is a major problem affecting women
of all ages, races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations and bearing
on both health and mental health. According to the NASW policy statement,
much of the violence that women suffer is at the hands of someone
they know and occurs most often within the home. Violence against
women is a crime, but it is also a health problem. It has been estimated
that more than 20 percent of hospital emergency department surgical
visits by women result from violence (Browne, 1993). Incidents of
battering often occur when a woman is pregnant, endangering not only
herself, but her fetus (Browne, 1993). More than half of women murdered
were killed by a partner (Browne, 1993). Lesbian women may suffer
verbal, physical, or sexual assault because of their sexual orientation
(Koss, 1993). The policy also says that abuse of older women is also
a major problem, often in their own families. Both the after-affects
of these traumas on the surviving victim and the pervasive fear of
violence that most women experience can have long-term major social
and mental health consequences as well as on any children invloved.
NASW continues to combat violence against women of all ages as well
as adequate health, mental health, and social services for women
and girls who are the victims of violence in all forms.
Media outlets: For more information on NASW’s policy statement
regarding women’s issues, please contact NASW Public Affairs
at media@naswdc.org.
Family Violence
Violence in the family and primary relationships has existed throughout history
but only recently has it been documented clearly and considered a social problem
of enormous magnitude. Family violence is present in all racial, ethnic, religious,
geographic, economic, age, political and educational groups. The FBI estimates
that a woman is battered every 30 seconds. Women who die from the actions of
their partners represent one-third to one-half of all reported homicides. Over
time, research has shown that violence often escalates in frequency and severity.
Fear of bodily harm and loss of financial support, as well as psychological
dependence. Often contribute to a woman’s decision to remain in a violent
relationship. No one single factor causes family violence. The complexity of
family violence leads most professionals to examine micro and macro issues
in assessing, intervening in, and studying the problems in all its forms. NASW
supports educational and prevention strategies for addressing family violence,
including interdisciplinary training, education, and comprehensive services.
NASW supports legislative efforts that address family violence and the funding
of programs that address family violence.
Media Outlets: For more information regarding NASW’s position
on family violence, please contact NASW Public Affairs at media@naswdc.org
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