Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Domestic Violence (Common view that domestic abuse takes place with sick…
Domestic Violence
Home Office definition of domestic violence:
'Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.'
Can include psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional violence or abuse.
Common view that domestic abuse takes place with sick or mentally disturbed individuals, however, sociologists argue that:
- domestic violence is far too widespread according to the Women's Aid Federation, domestic violence accounts for between a sixth and a quarter of all recorded violent crimes.
- domestic violence does not occur randomly it follows a particular social pattern (mainly men against women). Kathryn Coleman women are more likely than men to experience *partner abuse, family abuse, sexual assault and stalking.
* - Coleman and Osborne, 2 women a week (one third of all female homicide victim) are killed by partners or former partners.
Russell and Rebecca Dobash
- confirmed based on police records that the main cite examples of violence is wives being slapped, pushed about, raped, beaten or killed by their husbands.
- Marriage legitimates violence against women by conferring power and authority on husbands and dependency of women.
Sylvia Walby and Jonathan Allen women were more likely to be victims of multiple incidents of abuse and sexual violence.
Donna Ansara and Michelle Hindin women were more likely to be fearful of their partners rather than vice versa. Women experienced more serious violence with serious psychological effects.
Aliyah Dar domestic violence incidents can be repetitive (constant threat) or be random acts, where the victim can't keep reliable counts.
Official Statistics
-
-
David Cheal police and other government agencies can be reluctant to record such case as they don't want to get involved in family related cases.
3 main assumptions of family life:
- the family is a 'private sphere', so agencies should try to avoid getting involved too much.
- family is a good thing, so agencies try and avoid looking at the 'darker side' of family.
- the individual is free to leave that relationship. However, many women that are victims rely on their partners financially so leaving them is not the best idea.
Office for National Statistics the main social groups that are most in risk of domestic violence are:
- young women.
- those is the lower classes and living in deprived areas.
- those who have a low income or an in financial difficulties.
- those living in shared/ rented accomodation.
- those who have a high use of drugs and alcohol.
- those with long term illnesses or disabilities.
Explanations
Radical Feminists
Emphasises role of patriarchal ideas, cultural values and institutions.
Kate Millett and Shulamith Firestone patriarchy has founded the society. Men are the enemy and will be the oppressors and exploiters of women.
Within the family, men dominate women through domestic violence or threat of abuse so family is the key institution for the oppression of women.
Give a sociological reasoning rather than psychological. They link patterns of domestic violence to dominant social norms about marriage.
Materialist
-
Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett domestic violence is the result of stress in the family caused by social inequality.
Those on lower income or shared accommodation are more likely to experience stress. This reduces chances of stable relationships leading to domestic violence.
- Worries about money, jobs and housing can break into disputes.
- Lack of money and time restricts people in the social circle and reduces social support in stress.