<>1 (Fr. Craig Scott, n.d). Domestic violence can happen to anyone, anywhere in the world. In recent years, the number of domestic violence incidents has increased dramatically. Domestic violence is very important to discuss for this reason. There is ongoing debate within many societies around the world about how to handle this issue. This topic requires more than public discussion, there needs to be an understanding of what countries are doing to prevent domestic violence as well as what additional measures needs to be regulated through legal mechanisms to provide victims with assistance. The purpose of my work is to do just this. I will
explain what domestic violence is, why it is an issue and how to prevent it. I will focus a large section of my work on three specific types of violence, types that have not been thoroughly researched by scholars: reproductive, economic, and online violence. After explaining in detail what these forms of violence are, I will use survivor stories to show what is it like for someone to be a victim and how they survived. I will further complicate the essay by examining the problem of domestic violence within two specific countries: the United States and Russia. For both countries I will explain the current domestic violence statistics, current laws and legislative mechanisms, reactions from the government and non-governmental organizations, and what needs to change within each country to provide a better life for those within it. In addition, I will be comparing the United States and Russia, focusing on how the average citizen reacts to the issue of domestic violence. I will then explain my own personal findings based on the research
and conclude my essay by showing how my case study of the United States and Russia is a small sample of an issue that occurs worldwide.
The purpose of my work is to raise awareness and bring attention to a serious societal issue. The more people talk about domestic violence, the more societies can raise awareness, identify abusive conduct, and take legislative action to prevent this harm. Through research, one can learn about what domestic violence victims need, their perspectives on these harmful situations and can develop ways to decrease the likelihood of future abuse within society. This topic was relevant to me due to my studies as both a student of Russian but also a student of Law & Policy. I wanted to use my Russian knowledge in examining a legal issue. Domestic violence is an under researched legal problem. I wanted to further the scholarship on this topic to help bring about a dialogue on changing what is happening in the United States and Russia as well as societies around the world. <>2 ― Russell Wilson (a victim of domestic violence) (Russell Wilson, N.D.). It is my hope that my research will be a start to a conversation so that we, as a society, no longer lose the battle against domestic violence.