The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States aimed at addressing and combating violence against women. Congress passed VAWA and was signed into law as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act by President Bill Clinton. The Act was designed to improve criminal justice responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to increase the availability of services for those victims. The movement bill responded to domestic violence and sexual assault, resulting in recognition/support for domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and other community organizations working nationwide to end domestic violence. The movement marked a significant step in addressing and combating violence against women in the United States. It had a profound impact on society as well by raising awareness about domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious issues that needed to be addressed. VAWA did not only provide crucial resources to support victims but also aimed to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions. ‘Violence Against Women’ by Susana T. Fried mentions that, “Over the past three decades women’s organizations have created a paradigm shift in understanding and acting to end violence against women.” (Fried, 2). Women had more support and resources available to them and it helped empower women to come forward to seek help and break the cycle of abuse. Men were impacted by the act as well as it emphasized the importance of respecting boundaries and promoting healthier relationships. Just like the 4B Movement, women share a common goal of addressing and combating violence against women. Women in South Korea aim to raise awareness about issues such as bias, discrimination and violence against women in Korean society. They strive to create a safer and more equitable environment for women in their respective communities. “Gender-based violence was once considered a taboo subject, expressed in whispers or suffered in silence. Now it is part of the public agenda.” (Fried, 2), the 4B Movement expresses to achieve gender equality and addresses the issue of violence and sexual abuse towards women. VAWA advocated for the safety and well-being of women, and worked towards a society where women are protected from harm and are able to live free from fear of violence and abuse. “One out of three women in the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime – and the abuser is usually a family member or someone otherwise known to her.” (Fried, 4), women have unfortunately and continue to be targets for sexual abuse, violence and sexual assault in various ways throughout history. It is a harsh reality that many women have been put through violence in society. These actions not only cause physical harm but also have long-lasting emotional and psychological effects on the victims. ‘The Role of Violence Against Women Act in Addressing Intimate Partner Violence: A Public Health Issue’ by Monica N. Modi, Sheallah Palmer and Alicia Armstrong mention that “VAWA's origins were from the collective effort of the battered women's movement, law enforcement agencies, sexual assault advocates, the courts, and attorneys who urged Congress to create legislation that protects women from intimate partner violence.” This highlights that VAWA was born out of a collaborative effort involving various groups and individuals including the battered women’s movement. “A survey of immigrant Korean women to the United States found that 60% had been battered by their husbands.” as these statistics shed light on the harsh reality of women who are often subjected to higher rates of domestic violence and unveils the deep-rooted societal issues surrounding the treatment of women. “Crime Bill Should Make Women Feel Safe” by The New York Times Archives, “As a result, women have more legal options than solely relying on prosecutors who have control over whether or not to file criminal charges in rape and sexual assault cases.” emphasizing the significance of providing women with additional legal options beyond solely depending on prosecutors to decide whether to pursue criminal charages in cases of rape and sexual assault. An article titled, “4B Movement: No to men till respect for women” by Kaitlin Burns states that Korea’s birth rate has steadily dropped and one of the reasons is because of “disrespectful and aggressive behaviors from men in the nation, being described as believing they are entitled to be with women. The women of the nation have decided to show not only how important they are as people, but how they won’t stand for the mistreatment.” This movement aims to assert their value and demand better treatment signifies a growing and push for change in societal norms and attitudes towards women.

Works Cited:
Primary Sources:
“Crime Bill Should Make Women Feel Safer.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Sept. 1994, www.nytimes.com/1994/09/20/opinion/l-crime-bill-should-make-women-feel-s....
Secondary Sources:
Fried, Susana T. “Violence against Women.” Health and Human Rights, vol. 6, no. 2, 2003, pp. 88–111. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/4065431.
Additional Sources:
Modi, Monica N, et al. “The Role of Violence against Women Act in Addressing Intimate Partner Violence: A Public Health Issue.” Journal of Women’s Health (2002), U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3952594/.
Burns, Kaitlin. “4B Movement: No to Men till Respect for Women.” The Voice of the Wildkats, wildkats.org/2024/04/13/4b-movement-no-to-men-till-respect-for-women/.