When we think of domestic violence, we think of how much it hurts the adult victim. But what we may not realise is that children also experience domestic violence, and this affects their physical and emotional health and wellbeing. Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence, grow up in an environment that is unpredictable, filled with tension and anxiety and dominated by fear. This can lead to significant emotional and psychological trauma, similar to children that experienced the trauma of child abuse. Instead of growing up in an emotionally and physically safe, secure, nurturing and predictable environment, these children are forced to worry about the future. They try to predict when it may happen next and try to protect themselves and their siblings. Often getting through each day is a major obstacle so there is little time left for fun, relaxation or planning for the future.
The children may also grow up to think it is okay to use violence to get what they want and as adults, it is okay for violence to be in their relationships. Most people do not believe that domestic violence is detrimental to the health of children. Domestic violence is so easy for people in our part of the world to ignore as it happens mostly without witnesses. Yet, by speaking publicly about domestic violence, together we can challenge attitudes towards violence in homes and show that such violence is simply not acceptable. The effects of it on our children are huge.
Fariha Tabassum Piya,
Student of Department of Management,
University of Dhaka, Dhaka,
f.tabassum36@gmail.com