One justice issue that I believe is relevant to our society today concerns women who suffer from domestic violence/battery. Batter Women's Syndrome (BWS) has recently been reformed in the United States as Batter Person's Syndrome (BPS) to include men as potential victims of domestic violence/battery. The term batter syndrome has been recognized as a social issue and legal changes have been made in the United States in order to protect those affected by domestic violence/battery. My overall goal for this essay is to remind people of the historical origins behind this social issue, the progress our society has made in the legal system, and suggest policy changes to improve the legal protection of domestic violence and battered women. The United States recognized battered women as a social and legal problem in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, English common law stated that a man could punish his wife with a stick no larger than his thumb. (The invincible women correct quote). The creation of the BWS arose from the essentialism widespread in the 1960s that judged women who killed their spouses as “evil” or “mentally ill.” The creation of BWS was still a source of concern for many women as the term “syndrome” was associated with mental illness. The negative connotation towards women who had killed their spouses still persisted, no one questioned why women were taking drastic measures. The social changes that began to arise from the revelation of domestic violence were the beginning of a second wave of feminist activists in the 1970s. who were willing to break the silence in the United States against domestic violence and battery. Francine Hughes has become an important figure for the campaign yet...... middle of paper ......g collaborative we can provide examples such as after numerous domestic violence reports have been reported an investigation can take place to ensure the safety of its citizens. Another option may be when numerous domestic violence/battery calls are made, all family members must obtain documentation from a doctor stating if there are signs of domestic violence or if there is no sigh of domestic violence . These few scenarios had problems, especially when you consider that physical abuse tends to heal and the evidence can disappear quickly. The best way to deal with these problems is sometimes to create prevention and revitalization of individuals who suffer from beatings. Works Cited http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/overview.htm http://www.thehotline.org/help /http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-domesticviolence.htm