The impact of violence against women and girls: A life span analysis

Violence against women across their life span has been recognised as a serious problem in contemporary society. This chapter identifies forms of violence against women and girls with focus on the family home. It discusses childhood victimisation and the increased risk for later intimate partner violence, adolescent violence against the mother, and abuse in older age. The issue of trauma-related distress is examined in relation to physical and mental health, social and emotional functioning and its contribution to increased vulnerability for subsequent victimisation. It argues that professionals working with children and women could assist in preventative efforts by understanding the way in which exposure to violence by a trusted family member can interfere with adjustment and the development of emotional self-regulation. Early intervention may assist in treating the impact of victimisation. The chapter concludes that identifying vulnerable and vivtimesed females of any age, and providing effective intervention therapies along with generalised prevention programs, may demonstrate intergenerational disruption of harmful outcomes of violence against women and girls in the family home.