em. The government is against domestic violence. Common assault can be dealt with either as a serious offence (called an indictable offence) or as a less serious offence (called a summary offence). The sentence may be a fine, a jail term, a discharge or probation. It depends on the seriousness of the assault. The judge may choose one or more of these penalties. For example, the judge may fine the offender and place him on probation. The offender will have a criminal record. When child abuse is reported, a child worker looks into it. If there is serious danger, the child is removed from the home and placed with a family that will keep him safe. When the child is no longer in danger, the child worker can help the family learn how to deal with its problems in a better way. Today, battered women and children can seek help. They can live on welfare or go to a shelter for abused women. These shelters help each family start a new life where their abuser cannot find them. The women and children learn that abuse is not their fault and about equal rights. The shelters help women find jobs and safe places to live. The children learn to solve problems in ways that are not violent and most important, they learn that not all men are violent. In our society, strict ideas about how boys and girls should behave can cause trouble. This kind of thinking, about what is right for boys and girls, is called “sexism”. Today many professional counsellors are trying to teach people how to avoid this kind of thinking. They can also help people to change their feelings about the things that are right for boys and girls. The more we learn about respecting the rights and the independence of all others – boys, girls, men, women, wives, husbands, children, mothers, and fathers – the easier it will be to keep family violence from happening. ...
