Abstract
According to conflict theory, human behavior in social milieu is as a result of disagreement between contending groups. Depression, fear, social isolation and intense anxiety are prominent among battered females, and the collateral destruction that follows from familial violence extends beyond the individual victim. The burden occasioned through domestic hostility entails lost wages and time, health care costs and lowered productivity. Domestic brutality negatively affects children performance in school. Children exposed to familial violence experience mental, social and emotional destruction that besides affecting their progressive growth, affects their academic performance. Domestic violence impact on children is long-lasting. This brief overview discusses the effects of domestic violence on children educational achievement through incorporation of social-conflict theory.
Introduction
Domestic violence entails a blueprint of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and intimidation that escalates in severity and frequency over time. Domestic violence involves misuse of exercise and power of control by one partner over the other in marriage or in an intimate relationship, normally by a man over a woman, and occasionally by a female over a male (Sheldon & Macdonald, 2009, p.221). Domestic violence holds profound upshots in individuals, communities and families. According to Sheldon & Macdonald (2009), one out of four females experience domestic violence, and one out of five experience physical attack. The impacts on children are profound and permanent. Domestic violence posts threat of harm to children. Children may accidently get injuries because of dwelling in homes where violence occurs, and may directly experience abuse from the conflicting parents. Although all children do not experience similar effects, domestic violence adversely affects a child’s behavior and emotional adjustment. These aspects hold detrimental impacts on a child’s cognitive propensity and academic achievement.
Conflict theory implies that human behavior in social framework is results of conflicts between two or more disagreeing groups (Rogers, 2010). Conflict theory explores the role of authority as well as the inequality found tactically throughout the society. The concept of Karl Marx forms the foundation of the conflict theory and it rose to prominence in 1970s because of the disillusionment with structural functionalism (Brinkerhoff & Ortega, 2007). Conflict theory rediscovered phenomena such as force, coercion, constraint, power and change in social systems. Individuals who hold power want to keep the power, while those without power fight to attain it. People react to gender disparities through numerous means among them open hostility and revolt against existing social mechanism (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.302).
With respect to conflict theory, families are not harmonious (Brinkerhoff & Ortega, 2007). However, this theory centers on the capacity of families to handle differences, conflicts and changes. Conflicts in families are normal and people understand family dynamics through determining the conflict sources as well as the power source (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.392). The theory assumes that no group of human society exists without conflicts of concern. In addition conflict is crucial for social growth and change. Domestic violence results from discordance and disagreement in concepts and ideas. Conflict also takes place in families because of inequalities where one partner hold more power than the other (Rogers, 2010). Unequal distribution of power in families forms familial hierarchies which shows family influence and structure functioning. Domestic violence results from power struggle between genders and inappropriate gender socialization (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.302).
Application of conflict theory to family care holds scores of implications for social work (Brinkerhoff & Ortega, 2007). This is because conflict theory fits appropriately with underlying ethics and values of social work. Apparently social workers working with domestic violence victims utilize social conflict theory to conceptualize the difference in power that exists between males and females (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.302). Conflict theory also helps in conceptualizing means through which patriarchal society promotes and upholds gender inequality.
Society is one of the major concepts of sociology and it refers to a huge social grouping that share similar geographical boundaries, social structure and culture. Culture on the other hand, refers to the knowledge, values, customs and language passed from generation to generation (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.32). Culture entails society values, beliefs and norms. Norms refers to behaviors that are suitable or unsuitable with respect to principles of a certain society. Social structure refers to the intricate blueprint of societal organizations (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.75). Women are the weak sex while men are the stronger se. children are vulnerable to conflicts between their parents.
Domestic violence affects every factor of a child’s well-being and education (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.223). In fact, the government indentifies domestic violence as a major cause of vulnerability in children that holds negative effects on children’s ability to attain their ultimate potential in their education (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.272). In families experiencing domestic violence, violent parents normally abuse children making them suffer trauma because of witnessing or hearing the insults directed to the non-violent parent (Sterne & Lawler, 2010). These aspects have long-term effects on their mental health. Moreover, the health of children suffers when domestic violence puts to remission the ability of parenting. Conflict theory puts much emphasis on the significance of social structural inequality in families and the society. From conflict theory approach, the inequality of gender power which limits resources on one gender is responsible for inequality in healthcare (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.536).
Domestic violence also impairs child-parent relationship as children reduce their trust and confidence in their parent. Such children resort to dangerous behaviors for consolation. These children engage in total risk-taking trends and self-harm thereby culminating their education (Sterne & Lawler, 2010). Parents in domestic violent relationship usually neglect their children educational needs. Such children are bullied by others in school and this discourages them leading to dropping grades and eventually school dropouts.
Men who are aggressive to their wives are likely to be violent towards their own children (Sterne & Lawler, 2010). Children in violent families do not feel safe in their homes. Children’s behavioral and emotional difficulties can instigate truancy and exclusion periods. Domestic violence places children at greater threats of anti-social behaviors, drug abuse, sexual exploitation and crime. Familial violence and deviant behaviors are linked. Children adapt and show deviance behaviors when conflicting parents neglect them, and when domestic violence affects the daily lives. Deviance refers to conducts that infringes social norms (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.166). Children in violent families begin to steal, lie, engage in illicit activities and disrespect their parents. Children engaging in such behaviors never get a chance to go on or complete their education (Sterne & Lawler, 2010).
Children in violent families face great obstacles to school attendance, enjoyment and participation (Sterne & Lawler, 2010). Their education gets interrupted by constant shifts of schools and homes. Moreover, most children from violent families opt to stay at their homes close to their mothers. The violence affects their readiness and concentration in learning. Anxiety and stress makes such children not to follow their education interests, they cannot settle down and take pleasure in school (Sterne & Lawler, 2010). Moreover, domestic violence lead to social isolation an aspect that makes children in violent families feel uncomfortable while mingling with other students.
Domestic violence affects a child’s confidence thereby making it hard for children in violent families to engage completely in the society and create healthy connections. Domestic violence influences socialization in children and affect how children relate with each other. Socialization is the procedure through which individuals learn societal expectations (Anderson & Taylor, 2007, p.83). Children learn about their roles in the society through socialization procedure where the community requires them to behave according to certain social status (Anderson & Taylor, 200, p.83). Children always feel as if they are the ones to blame for aggression in their families. This aspect lowers their self-esteem and makes it hard for them to form positive relationships. Children in domestic violent families experiences behavioral and emotional difficulties (Sterne & Lawler, 2010). They experiences increased rates of anxiety, depression and signs of trauma which negatively affects their educational life.
Conclusion
Domestic violence puts children at risk of financial problems. A parent in an abusive family faces intricacies working and upholding a job. Children suffering from financial problems most likely flee their familial homes with their mothers. Their education and social life get disrupted making them less likely to attain their academic potential. With respect to social conflict theory, women are assaulted far more often and far more critically than are males. There are major aspects that trigger domestic violence against women. They include culture, social structure, religion, society and social deviance behaviors. Domestic violence instigated by gender inequality and conflict of interest adversely affects a child’s behavior and emotional adjustment. Apparently, these aspects hold detrimental impacts on a child’s cognitive propensity and academic achievement.
References
Anderson, M., & Taylor, H. (2007). Sociology with infotrac: Understanding a diverse society, case bound. London: Cengage Learning.
Brinkerhoff, D., & Ortega, S. (2007). Essentials of sociology. Texas: Cengage Learning.
Rogers, A. (2010). Human behaviour in the social environment. New York: Taylor & Francis.
Sheldon, B., & Macdonald, G. (2009). Textbook of social work. New York: Taylor & Francis.
Sterne, A., & Lawler, C. (2010). Domestic violence and children: A handbook for schools and early years setting. New York: Taylor & Francis.
