Domestic violence has been a cultural taboo. My research began with exploring the historic reality of domestic violence. I looked at the social context of domestic violence and how social movements led to legislation of domestic violence laws. While domestic violence is defined in the state of Colorado as being between two intimate partners, there are often children living in the home where the violence occurs. Recognizing this, I explored the effect that domestic violence has on children who witness it while their brains are developing and family socialization is occurring. My research included both the cognitive development of children as well as research done on adults who had grown up in homes where domestic violence was present. In the second part of my research, I looked at solutions to domestic violence by immersing myself in the field of advocacy work. Finally, my research explored several different resources available in Durango for survivors of domestic violence.
