Family - Domestic Violence

Question 1

Domestic violence

Answer 1

‘Any incident of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 of over who are or have been intimate partners or family members.’

Question 2

Dobash and Dobash: Reasoning for DV

Answer 2

Found that violent incidents could occur if husbands or men saw challenges to his authority ->marriage legitimates violence against women by granting power and authority on men and dependency on wives.

Question 3

Evidence

Answer 3

Allen - found women were much more likely to be victims of multiple incidents of abuse and of sexual abuse.
Hindin-found that women suffered more severe violence and control with more serious psychological effects. Women more fearful of partners.

Question 4

Explanations of domestic violence

-Radical feminist explanation

Answer 4

• emphasises role of patriarchal ideas, cultural values and institutions
• Firestone(S) claims men are the enemy:oppressors and exploiters of women. Within family, men dominate women through DV and preserves power for men over women.
• Radical Feminists ignore female violence and ignore fact that not all men are aggressive and violent against women.

Question 5

Explanations of domestic violence

-Material explanation

Answer 5

-emphasises economic factors such as lack of resources
Pickett(S) see domestic violence as the result of stress on family members caused by social inequality
-families of low income more likely to experience stress (overcrowded homes) -> more likely to be unstable -> increases risk of conflict
*useful in showing social inequalities produces conflict and violence in families HOWEVER does not explain why women are subject of violence more than men.