DV View points
Radical feminists
- Dobash shows evidence of patriarchy according to firestone & millet
- key division in society is between women & men
- family main source of female oppression - dominated through DV
→ DV way of exerting dominance in patriarchal society
- male domination in institutions help explain reluctance to prosecute DV
Criticisms of RF VP
- Elliot 1996 rejects patriarchy in family → not all men aggressive RF tend to ignore this
- fail to explain female to men violence
→ Mirless-Black - 1 in 7 men been assaulted
Wilkinson 1996
- DV result of stress on family caused by social inequality
- low income likely to experience higher stress levels → reduces chances of maintaining stable relation. & increases risk of violence
- lack of money & time restricts social circle & reduces social support
Criticisms
- fails to explain why wealthy people commit DV
- does not explain why women proved to be main victims
KEY STUDIES
Hester & Radford 1996 - DV & law
→ suggested male dom. in families still exists
- when divorce occurred bc of DV it wasn't taken into account w/ custody arrangements
→ males could still control ex-wives after marriage
Lockhurst 1999 - male victims of DV
- women violence underestimated & under researched
→ men trad. seen as controlling - feminists dominated research so only women seen as victims