History Flashcards
Interpersonal Abuse is aka?
Family Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Domestic Violence
Domestic Abuse
Women and children are more likely to be victimized in their own homes than they are…
on the streets of America’s most violent cities
Family interactions comprise the single greatest determinant of?
an individual’s level of violence outside the home
Why is there little agreement on what exactly constitutes family violence?
Adult victims may not recall childhood abuse
Children and spouses who are currently in abusive relationships
may ‘not view
wish to view
be unable to report
the behaviour’ they have experienced as abuse
In domestic violence situations, the perpetrator is
related to the victim in some way
Historians examine the development of families over time. While there isn’t much documentation about family violence, examining the laws of the time gives us a way to examine what society thought of the members of families and how they were to behave. Laws reflect the mores of the majority. They are established by the government of the time.
Legal sanctions on wife assault help identify? (2)
– what the expected code of behaviour by husbands was
– social status of family members which dictate how people are treated
Patriarchy – refers to a
What do some experts suggest about patriarchy?
Patriarchy today is used to describe an inequality of power of men dominating women. Even today, social mores reminiscent of ancient patriarchy may…?
social system that recognizes the complete dominance of men over women
that this inequality of the sexes is the foundation for the assumption of male superiority and the foundation for intimate partner violence
keep private the abuses that are legally prohibited
Patriarchy can be traced back beyond the Roman era. It defined…
relationships between husband and his wife and children
Patriarchy is recognized as?
as the most common and enduring social system
Patriarchy has been typically strengthened by?
law
custom
religion
Greece – first written laws – 621AD
Laws concerning women: (3)
Women were controlled by men.
Most important duties for city women were to bear children – preferably male – and to run the household.
Women were denied the vote.
Roman Empire (2)
Male head of the family had full rights and powers over his wife, children, and any descendants. Any harm committed against a woman was viewed as an offense against the father if she was unmarried, or as an offense to the husband. Never to the victim. Women had no legal standing in courts so couldn’t appeal for relief in any way.
Women, children and slaves were property that could be bought or sold.
Christian Era (2)
Embraced subordination of wives over their husbands.
Scriptures commanded women to be silent, obedient, accepting of their husbands’ authority.
British Common Lawn (4)
Women and children were no longer viewed as property but result the same.
Belief that when married “the two became one” – legally and socially. The rights of women were subordinate to men when they were married. Single women did not suffer the same fate. When married, the very being or legal existence of women is suspended during the marriage, or at least is incorporated and consolidated into that of her husband.
Rights of women are subordinate to those of the male.
Rule of Thumb
French Law Napoleonic Code (3)
Subjugated women as legal minors for their entire lives.
Wives could be beaten, punched, permanently disfigured for minor disobedience or for scolding.
Influenced French, Swiss, Italian and German law
Early America (2)
Patriarchy continued in colonies as the ideal family.
Custom of inheritance by the eldest son.
First Nations Families
Matriarchal – family name, blood line, and inheritance came from the mother
Children were lavished with affection.
Children were not spanked or beaten as punishment.
First Nations Families and white guys
Residential schools?
European settlers disagreed with this system.
System eroded and replaced with colonists’ views of patriarchy.
Colonialization required families conform to Anglo norms.
Residential schools were established in order to teach children European values. They were often beaten by teachers, thereby learning that violence was an acceptable method of reprimand and social control.
Women’s political and economic roles suffered and abuse of children and women became prevalent.
United Nations first official recognition of protecting kids? – When?
United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child – 1989
United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child declared that all children should be protected from?
“physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child”.
United Nations first official recognition of protecting women? – When?
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women – 1994
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women – 1994 condemns
any “act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”
All families conflict in inappropriate ways from time to time.
There are a number of factors which combine to create the climate where violence occurs in families. (4) FISS-CI
Our role is to try and understand these factors!
Family norms Idealization of the family Structural factors Social tolerance/acceptance of violence Cultural factors Individual factors
Family norms (1)
It is normal to spank children
Idealization of the family
PP FFF
Parental rights supersede children’s rights;
Parents should control their children;
Family members have the best interests of children and the elderly at heart;
Family traditions create strong families;
Families have the right to privacy and autonomy
Structural factors
PEW TP
Power differentials among family members;
Time spent together increases tension;
Wives / children dependent on the husband;
Privacy and autonomy granted to families
*Economic dependency is REAL. Also, women never recover economically from divorce. Men are back on their feet in 8-10 years + continue to build.
