Domestic Violence

Question 1

What’s the materialist explanation of domestic violence?

Answer 1

• They focus on economic and material factors such as inequalities in income and housing
• Those on lower incomes are likely go experience higher levels of stress and increases the chance and risk of conflict and violence

Question 2

How does the Marxist Feminist Fran Ansley describe inequality and causing domestic violence?

Answer 2

Describes wives as ‘Takers of shit’ and argues domestic violence is the product of capitalism as make workers are exploited at work and then take their frustration out their wives

Question 3

What’s the radical feminist explanation of domestic violence?

Answer 3

Believe that it’s an inevitable feature of patriarchal society as in marriage men dominate women through the threat if domestic violence

Question 4

key statistics for child abuse?

Answer 4

16% of children will experience abuse at the hands of their parents
has increased by 42%

Question 5

key statistics for domestic violence?

Answer 5

1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence

hard to measure as most takes place behind closed doors

Question 6

why do domestic violence statistics underestimate the amount of domestic violence?

Answer 6

• women are reluctant to report it
• police are reluctant to report it as they don’t want to interfere with the amount of domestic violence
• its assumed women in these relationships can just leave but many are financially dependent on their husbands

Question 7

what do the New right argue about the explanation of domestic violence?

Answer 7

• belive domestic violence takes place in dysfunctional families
• violence résulta from the instability of families

Question 8

what are the three feminist explanations for domestic violence?

Answer 8

a) gender role socialisation-boys are socialised to be masculine which involves aggression and toughness whereas women learn to be passive and subordinate
b) the nature of masculinity- in our culture masculinity values control over others so men can resort to violence if they feel they are losing control over their female partner
c) a crisis in masculinity - boys are brought up to be the breadwinners however the feminisation of the economy has led to a crisis of masculinity - men use violence as they feel their masculinity is being threatened

Question 9

whats the postmodernist approach?

Answer 9

the nature of the family has led to the increase in domestic violence
-relationships are charged with strong emotions and a mix of love and hate so even minor arguments can lead to violence