3. Domestic Violence

Question 1

What is Domestic Violence?

Answer 1

Any INCIDENT or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who’re or have been intimate patterns or family members regardless of gender or sexuality

Can include psychological, physical, sexual , financial and emotional violence or abuse

Question 2

What are 3 groups that are MOST at RISK of Domestic Violence?

Answer 2

• YOUNG WOMEN
• lowest social classes and live in most deprived areas
• those with HIGH levels of ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION or using ILLEGAL DRUGS

Question 3

What are 4 Explanations for Domestic Violence?

Answer 3

(1) The Materialistic Explanation (money)
(2) Psychological explanations (mental health’
(3) Culture, History and Social Structure
(4) Masculinity and Violence

Question 4

Explain the Explanation for Domestic Violence - the Materialistic Explanation

Answer 4

FOCUSES on ECONOMIC and MATERIAL FACTORS such as INEQUALITIES in Income and Housing to explain why some groups are more at risk than others

E.g. WILKINSON & PICKETT see DV as the RESULT OF STRESS on FAMILY MEMBERS caused by SOCIAL INEQUALITY

Question 5

Explain the Explanation for Domestic Violence - Masculinity & Violence

Answer 5

DOBESH - argue that this is PART of MASCULINE IDENTITY in which the use of FORCE and INTIMIDATION are IMPORTANT SIGNS of MASCULINE WORTH
In violent encounters against women, it would be MORE IMPORTANT that MEN SUCCESSFULLY ASSET their AUTHORITY and CONTROL in an INTIMIDATING MANNER and DON’T ALLOW themselves to be PUSHED AROUND by the WOMAN

would Challenge the man’ sense of masculine identity

Question 6

Explain the Explanation for Domestic Violence - Psychological explanations (mental health ) 2 main types

Answer 6

• ANTI-SOCIAL/NARCISSISTIC OFFENDERS - had HOSTILE ATTITUDES towards Women and Tended to CONDONE DV as being ACCEPTABLE in some circumstances. Emotional Abuse often went hand in hand with DV. These Men often could be VERY THREATENING in attempts to Control Women
• BORDERLINE/EMOTIONALLY VOLATILE OFFENDERS - were LESS FREQUENTLY Emotionally Abusive towards their partner BUT at the Time of the physical abuse Could Make Extreme Threats. They TENDED to be CONTROLLING over MONEY and to ACTIVELY DISCOURAGE their PARTNER from Going OUT to SEE OTHER PEOPLE

Question 7

Explain the Explanation for Domestic Violence - Culture, History and Social Structure - dobashes

Answer 7

DOBASHES - DV can ONLY be UNDERSTOOD in a Broad Historical and Structural Context
DV is intimately LINKED with the EXISTENCE of PATRIARCHY - about the EXERCISE OF POWER by Men over Women in order to MAINTAIN DOMINANCE

Historically - widespread ACCEPTANCE of Violence of husbands against - 19th Century - considered Acceptable to Publicly Criticise and Punish Wives who ‘nagged or otherwise Verbally Abused’
this SET of ATTITUDES was Reinforced by Societal Institutions which Accpeted physical ‘punishments; of wives by husbands