Families & Households - Domestic Violence

Question 1

What is domestic violence?

Answer 1

Any incident/pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are/have been intimate partners/family members regardless of gender/sexuality

Question 2

What can domestic violence include?

Answer 2

Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation ,isolation & control with the use of threat of physical/sexual violence)
Psychological and/or emotional abuse
Financial/economic abuse
Harassment & stalking
Online/digital abuse

Question 3

How do sociologists challenge the view that domestic violence is committed by ‘sick/disturbed’ individuals?

Answer 3

Far too widespread - 2 million a year report being victims of domestic violence)
Doesn’t occur randomly - social patterns in domestic violence e.g. women are more likely to have experienced ‘intimate violence’ across all 4 types

Question 4

What did the crime survey for England & wales find out about the gender gap?

Answer 4

7.3% of women, 5% of men

Question 5

What is a recent statistic on domestic violence from the CSEW?

Answer 5

An estimated 7.9% of women (1.3 million) & 4.2% of men (695,000) have experienced domestic violence in the previous year (March 2018)

Question 6

What do Walby & Allen say about women in domestic violence?

Answer 6

Say women are more likely to be victims of multiple abuse & sexual violence

Question 7

What does Dar say about women in domestic violence?

Answer 7

It is difficult to count separate domestic violence incidents as it may be continuous

Question 8

Why may people not report domestic violence cases?

Answer 8

Victims may be unwilling to report to the police - on average a women suffers 35 assaults before making a report
Police & prosecutors may be reluctant to record, investigate or prosecute cases that are reported - reluctance is down to them not wanting to become involved in family life

Question 9

What are the 2 types of explanation for domestic violence?

Answer 9

The radical feminist explanation (emphasis on the role of patriarchal ideas, cultural values & institutions)
The materialistic explanation (emphasis on economic factors e.g. lack of resources)

Question 10

What is the radical feminist explanation for domestic violence?

Answer 10

Men are the enemy, they’re oppressors & exploiters of women
Family & Marriage are the key institution in patriarchal society & the main source of women’s oppression
Within the family men dominate women with domestic violence/threat
Domestic violence is inevitable in patriarchal society & serves to preserve power men have over women

Question 11

What do sociologists support the radical feminist explanation for domestic violence with?

Answer 11

Dobash & Dobash found violent incidents could occur is the husband felt his authority was challenged
Milett & Firestone argue all societies are founded on patriarchy

Question 12

What are the strengths of the radical feminist explanation for domestic violence?

Answer 12

Helps to explain why most domestic violence is committed by men
Links patterns of domestic violence to social norms about marriage (sociological explanation)
Male dominance of state institutions explains the reluctance of police & courts to effectively deal with domestic violence cases

Question 13

What are the limitations of the radical feminist explanation:

Answer 13

Faith Robertson Elliot states not all men are aggressive & most are opposed to domestic violence - ignored
Fails to explain female violence including child abuse by women, violence against male partners & lesbian relationships
Wrongly assume all women are equally at risk of patriarchal violence - fails to explain which women are most likely victims

Question 14

What groups of women are at a greater risk of domestic violence?

Answer 14

Young women
Lowest social classes/living in deprived areas
Low income/in financial difficulties
Living in shared/rented accommodation
High alcohol consumption/using illegal drugs
Long term illness/disability

Question 15

What is the materialistic explanation for domestic violence?

Answer 15

Inequalities mean some families have fewer resources than others
Can create higher levels of stress & increases the risk of conflict & violence - e.g. worries about money may spill over into domestic conflict
Lack of money/time can also reduce their social circle & support for those under stress

Question 16

What do Wilkinson & Pickett say that supports the materialistic explanation for domestic violence?

Answer 16

They see domestic violence as a result of stress on family members caused by social inequality

Question 17

What are the strengths of the materialistic explanation of domestic violence?

Answer 17

Show not all people are equally in danger of suffering domestic violence - those with less power/status/wealth/income are
Useful in showing how social inequality produces stress & triggers conflict & violence in families

Question 18

What is the limitation of the materialistic explanation for domestic violence?

Answer 18

Fails to explain why more women over men experience domestic violence & are the main victims

Question 19

What do Marxist feminists say about domestic violence?

Answer 19

See inequality causing domestic violence
Ansley - wives as ‘takers of shit’
Domestic violence is a product of capitalism - male workers are exploited at work & take their frustrations out on the wives
Helps to explain why domestic violence is male violence but not why all male workers commit domestic violence as well as domestic violence against men