Spousal Abuse

Magazine Article

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/04/02/o.why.men.abuse.women/index.html

collected on: 4/2/09

This article is related to women's studies because it talks about violence against women, and focuses on men who abuse their spouses. Oprah interviewed men who abused their partner's and tried to figure out what was going on in their heads and get to the root of the problem. This relates to the reading Reclaiming Our Mojo by Jane Fonda. She writes about rape and violence against women and children. Even violence against children is related to violence against women because both are violence against a subordinate group. Fonda and Oprah relate because they both address the causes and realities of violence against women and subordinate minorities. The article by Oprah relates to violence against women because talks about the effects of violence against women, possible reasons for violence against women and how it can be stopped. It interviews men who abuse their wives as well as women who have suffered abuse. It asks them key questions about possible solutions to the problem. Questions such as "Do you think if you would have left right away he would have gotten the message and never beat another woman?" and "why do you think you beat your wife Christi?".

The fact that violence against women is rampant enough to warrant an Oprah talk on it is a setback for men and women. However, this article is a step forward for men and women because asking these questions publicly on a forum like Oprah will bring the problem to center stage. Hopefully by raising awareness, it will get everyday people to question the problem and reduce it or solve it.