English Essay - Story of An Hour

Women and Domestic Violence Prevention
"As powerless as her two white hands would have been.(Chopin 200). Although the quote is
from a story, it unfortunately rings true throughout history towards women. The powerless hands
of women suffering from domestic violence, an occurrence that many know all too well, and
history has been witness to for hundreds of years. The progression of domestic violence
prevention from the 19th century to the 21st century, detailing specifically how the view of
domestic violence has changed and the laws regarding it. In the span of 150 years society went
from domestic violence being socially acceptable, to the realization that spousal abuse should
stop, to empowering women in the prevention of domestic violence.
In a patriarchal society, women have always been viewed as subordinate. Women must be
controlled by their husbands, majority of this control was done by physical or verbal abuse. U.S
courts continued to allow a man to beat his wife until 1871 (women's safe para. 7). In 1864,
when Kate Chopin wrote The Story of an Hour it was legal for a husband to beat his wife, in fact
it was encouraged to keep a woman in her place and correct any of her wrong doings. Violence
was used by a man to exert his power and control over his wife. In the 1800s there was a law in
affect called the rule of thumb which allowed a husband to beat his wife so long as the
instrument used was no thicker than his thumb (Womans aid para. 2). The character of Mrs.
Mallard in The Story of an Hour was a victim of domestic violence, in the story it says she was
young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression(Chopin 200). She also
foreshadows the coming feminist movement by declaring the feeling of freedom Free! Body
and soul free (Chopin 200) after learning her husband had died. Ms.Mallard represents a society
of women bound and oppressed by men; however that freedom from the hands of their abusers
comes to light in the 20th century.
In the 1950s the term housewife was used to describe women who stayed at home and catered to
their husbands. Spousal abuse was still a significant event that happened often, but the laws
regarding it slowly began to change. Men were no longer allowed to beat their wives in public
and could be charged if the police were witness to it, or the wife's markings were clearly an act
of violence (I.e. broken limbs, big noticeable bruises, or cuts resulting in stitches). However, in
most cases it was still the women's fault because she had bothered her husband, an example of
the view society had is an article giving advice to women in the 1960s Don't bother him with
your day. He has had a busy day and his day is more important than yours. (Women's aid para.
5). The way in which women were viewed was to be dependant on their husbands. But in the
1960s, the feminist movement took light and began to change societal views. By the 1970s the
battered womens movement changed the dynamic of how most people viewed women in the
world. It brought freedom to women that have been victims of domestic violence. Women started
sharing their stories, and the first shelters for abused women were founded. Ms. Mallard relishes
in the freedom she finally has from an oppressive husband, this shows the impact that the
feminist movement had Conceptions of social justice [are] a womans right to bodily integrity
and to autonomy. Implicit in our notion of bodily integrity is the right to be free from violence,
whether the violence is perpetrated by a stranger, lover, or significant other (Miccio 250).
Domestic violence was no longer encouraged and the laws changed to punish those who chose to
hurt their wives.
Currently in 2015, domestic violence is an offence no longer taken lightly. Women have the
rights and freedoms to stand up for themselves and protect themselves. There are many shelters
for abused women to get away from their partners; there are people for domestic victims to talk
to. In the 21st century, society has a better understanding of the dynamics between men and
women, and what is right and wrong. There are more studies that show the psychological
damage that abuse has on women called the battered woman syndrome which is the cycle of
abuse that a women goes through, if a women has battered woman syndrome she is
psychological damaged enough to make it difficult to remover her from the abusive household.
Studies continue to develop ways to know how to look for a victim of domestic violence. Also,
when and how to help the person. The prevention of domestic violence is more common in
today's society than it was in the past. However, the majority of preventions happen after the
first abusive outburst occurs, afterwards comes the intervention for the victim. Today we need to
focus on how to prevent abuse in its entirety, and to notice the signs before the abuse occurs.
Also, to have the police train for situations of domestic violence in order to appropriately asses
the situation, because in most cases the abuser is not removed from the home right away. The
most important improvement to date in the steps taken to prevent abuse is that, society has come
together to protect and empower women with movements, and organizations such as National
Coalition against Domestic Violence, Nova House, and Red Door Shelters. There are places for
victims of domestic violence to go and protect themselves, and get the help they need to survive
such a horrific ordeal.
In the Story of an hour Ms. Mallory was abused and oppressed by her husband, like most women
were in the 1800s. However, she felt the freedom that many women did not get until the 1970s.
Throughout history women have been considered to be the lesser person, if a person at all. But
society has grown and changed the views on women, domestic violence, and human rights which
has created new laws and better protection for women. Society has come a long way from
encouraging men to keep their women in place with force, to the women's movement and
changing the laws to prevent abuse, to today's society were it is not tolerated at all and there are
many ways to help a victim of domestic violence.

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Women and Domestic Violence Prevention

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