Domestic violence: from gaining awareness of victimization to requesting help

TitleDomestic violence: from gaining awareness of victimization to requesting help
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsMonzani M
JournalInterdisciplinary Journal of Family Studies
Volume17
Issue2
Pagination67-75
Date Published12/2012
PublisherPadova University Press
Place PublishedPadova, IT
ISSN Number2282-2011
Keywordsawareness, denial, help., victim, victimization
Abstract

Emilio Viano (1983) defines a crime victim as «any individual that has
been injured or that has suffered wrongdoing on the part of others, and that
perceives themselves as a victim, who shares the experience with others that are
looking for help, assistance and compensation, who is recognised as a victim and
who presumably is being helped by public, private or collective
agencies/structures» (p. 54). The theme of awareness of victimization is central to
any victimological discussion; it is only through awareness that a victim may
request the help he needs. Other times it is the contact with the victim support
centers and a discussion with their staff that makes the victims themselves become
aware of their status. The path of empowerment opens the door to the path of help,
which has as its ultimate goal the restoration of the status quo ante.

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