A study by a group of Canadian academics and poverty activists was recently released. The study showed that too often, women are choosing to stay in an abusive relationship because they know they won't be able to survive on welfare benefits.
The study suggests that the all levels government are forcing women to remain in abusive home because they can not support themselves and their children on welfare benifits in Ontario.
The study, which interviewed 64 women who were in abusive relationships and using welfare, states that increasing welfare rates is the most important thing the government can do to encourage women to permanently leave abusive relationships.
That is the part of the study that I wish to take issue with. Our society has become extremely violent. All you need to to prove this point is turn on an news cast. The war going on in Iraq, the war on drugs on our streets, the war on domestic violence. It seems that we are at war a lot.
As we most wars it would seem that some are advocating simply throwing more money at the problem. I am not against increasing welfare rates at all, I personally don't believe that anyone in this extremely rich country should be living below the poverty line. No one in our country should be going to sleep hungry. The fact that this happens is a deep shame to this wealthy country.
By all means, increase the rates given to families in need; however, saying that this is somehow going to help women who live in abusive relationships is very wrong.
Several years ago Ontario passed a law that took the responsiblity for charging an abusive spouse out of the hands of the victim. The police were instructed to lay assault charges if they saw any sign of physical violence at all.
It seems to me that assault is a criminal offence. If a spouse assaults his/her spouse they should be removed from the home. Zero tolerance.
Governments who really are serious about tackling the problem of Domestic Violence need to take a look at programs such as the one in Cambridge Mass. Here
Yes women fleeing violence may need some financial support, but its time we made the abuser responsible for their actions, and not simply say that government needs to throw more money at it.
Posted by Dar... at April 7, 2004 05:38 PM | TrackBack