2.4.3.6 Influence of sports
In addition to the above factors, Selles (1999:20) notes that
competitive sports may develop in the individual the attitude of using force to
win. Stark (1986:23) substantiates that using brutality to get victory may
hinder an individual's nonviolent beliefs and attitudes to address contentions
in the home.
Congruent with Levy (1991:17), boys are culturally educated
to oppose nurturing manners and this leads many of them to cultivate beliefs
that denigrate and exploit women in society. In this vein, Wilondja (2008:90)
thinks that South Kivu boys who play competitive games express a poorer degree
of sportsmanship and fairness compared to the boys who were never involved in
competitive sports. Levy (1991:21) assumes that a person who insists on winning
at any cost will also develop violent beliefs and attitudes toward household
members.
2.4.4 Effects of domestic violence
The wide and long-term consequences of domestic violence may be
physical and psychological, and they can affect the family and the society.
2.4.4.1 Social effects
The effects of domestic violence damage the family and the
society. Mahajan (1990:91) ascertains that the damages of domestic abuse are
high and heavy as `society may pay costly medical care, mental health services,
criminal justice intervention, witnesses huge business losses and its security
is endangered'. There is some evidence (Women for Women International, 2007)
that the cost of domestic abuse in the United States of America (USA) is
`estimated in billions of dollars each year'. In South Kivu, Ongala (1993:53)
say that domestic abusers also threaten the security of the whole society and
particularly that of their neighbourhood. Wilondja (2008:70) affirms that `the
noise of the victim at night and repeated fight in the home disturb everyone
and social environment'. Furthermore, Women for Women International (2007)
states that DRC women were divorced and others chased from their villages as
they were raped during wars.
2.4.4.2 Effects on the victim
The victim of domestic violence may suffer various lifelong
problems. In this regard, Straus (1990:23) evidences that physical and moral
injuries are the most appalling consequences of domestic violence. For example,
Sable (1998:32) found that in the USA, 6% of the victims of domestic abuse live
in intense disappointment that they decide to commit suicide. On the other
hand, Barnett (2000:79) confirms that Indian hopeless and miserable women
victims of domestic abuse count for 60%. Such a situation prevails because the
victim suffers being denied contact with her family members, friends or her own
children' (Matundu, 2007). In South Kivu, this writer notes that victims of
domestic abuse suffer terrible depression, develop nightmares and
sleeplessness, causing health complications. In addition, Fikree and Bhatti
(1992) point that domestic abuse makes the victim hate the people of the
abuser's gender because she is coerced, oppressed, humiliated and upset. This,
to Bahige (1994:160), lowers the victim's morality and self-esteem, sometimes
pushing her to quit her job; so, without financial means, she suffers with her
and possibly she can lose the house if she was renting.
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