It has often been postulated in films and writings that at one time domestic violence against women was not a serious matter. We see it in movies representing a different time in the world, we read about it in novels and we see evidence in the writings of authorities on the subject. Once, domestic violence, particularly against women, was accepted as a “natural expression of male dominance.” Fortunately, humans have evolved into a more aware species with most of us understanding and agreeing that violence is never acceptable.
As people have evolved, the remedies against domestic violence offered by the justice system have evolved as well. Now, the law takes a much more serious-minded approach to such violence. Attempts at law reform addressing domestic violence have increased over the years as evidenced by this paper for the Battered Women’s Justice Project.
The report begins by highlighting early organization efforts taking place just after the civil rights and anti-war movements. At first progress and awareness proceeds slowly, but by the 1980s, the report indicates an explosion of advocacy and legal reform attempts. For example, in the early 1980s, people began advocating for the legal system to help battered women achieve their protection goals.
By the mid-to-late 1980s, the legal system had amended civil protection order laws to better address domestic violence. Today, even the federal level of the government is working to address and prevent domestic violence. However, as we all know, the problem continues to exist.
Family law attorneys have evolved in their approach to domestic violence as well. Now, we understand how complex these issues are as well as how far the consequences of domestic violence reach. As a result, we are better equipped to address the way violence in the family can trickle down to impact other legal matters. If you would like to learn more about how our firm addresses domestic violence issues for Florida families, please visit our website.