Marva Bledsoe

Marva Bledsoe argues in the following viewpoint that family violence is a serious problem that negatively affects many Americans of all races, ages, and income levels. Furthermore, she asserts, domestic violence is a learned behavior; many children who witness abuse falsely believe that violence is normal and is to be expected in their own adult relationships. The secrecy surrounding family violence must be exposed before society can find a solution to reducing domestic abuse. Bledsoe is the executive director of the Women’s Resource Center in Oceanside, California.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Bledsoe, how frequently is a person battered in the United States"
2. What percentage of spouse-abusing families abuse their children as well, as cited by the author"
3. What is one reason that family violence continues to thrive in...