sociology 1201 domestic violence dfn: violence between family members or between men and women in...

Sociology 1201Sociology 1201

Domestic violenceDomestic violence

Dfn: Violence between family members or Dfn: Violence between family members or between men and women in intimate between men and women in intimate relationshipsrelationships

How common? My neighborhood How common? My neighborhood How many of you know someone who has How many of you know someone who has

been physically assaulted by someone in been physically assaulted by someone in their family or someone who they have their family or someone who they have been dating? been dating?


National Violence Against Women National Violence Against Women Survey (NIJ, CDC) N=8000Survey (NIJ, CDC) N=8000

% of women who % of women who reported having been reported having been physically assaulted by physically assaulted by an intimate partner: 22% an intimate partner: 22% Beat up: 9%Beat up: 9% Choked, tried to drown: 6%Choked, tried to drown: 6% Kicked, bit: 6%Kicked, bit: 6% Hit with object: 5%Hit with object: 5% Threatened with gun: 4%Threatened with gun: 4% Stalked: 5%Stalked: 5% Raped: 8%Raped: 8%


Related issues of prevalenceRelated issues of prevalence

Are there abused men? In comparable survey, Are there abused men? In comparable survey, 8% of men reported physical assaults… in my 8% of men reported physical assaults… in my view, intimidation the key. view, intimidation the key.

Domestic violence does take place within gay Domestic violence does take place within gay and lesbian relationships, and is higher for men.and lesbian relationships, and is higher for men.

About ¼ of the kids in Unexpected Legacy had About ¼ of the kids in Unexpected Legacy had witnessed violence by fathers against mothers… witnessed violence by fathers against mothers… these are mostly middle class, white familiesthese are mostly middle class, white families


Institutional Features (explain)Institutional Features (explain)

Source: Richard Gelles, Source: Richard Gelles, Intimate Violence: The Intimate Violence: The Causes and Consequences of Abuse in the Causes and Consequences of Abuse in the American Family. American Family.

Time at riskTime at risk Intensity of involvement: primary groupIntensity of involvement: primary group Right of influenceRight of influence Age and sex differencesAge and sex differences Ascribed rolesAscribed roles PrivacyPrivacy


Conflict theory/feminist theory: sexConflict theory/feminist theory: sex

In most forms of violence, males In most forms of violence, males predominate, and if we control for time predominate, and if we control for time spent with the children, this is also true for spent with the children, this is also true for child abusechild abuse

Anthropology: The more sex equality in a Anthropology: The more sex equality in a society, the less violence toward women. society, the less violence toward women.


Social structure: Social classSocial structure: Social class

Gelles Gelles (Through a Sociological Lens: Social (Through a Sociological Lens: Social Structure and Family Violence):Structure and Family Violence): “The risk of child “The risk of child abuse, wife abuse, and elder abuse is greatest abuse, wife abuse, and elder abuse is greatest among those who are poor, who are among those who are poor, who are unemployed, and who hold low-prestige jobs.”unemployed, and who hold low-prestige jobs.”

Stress and the resources to handle it Stress and the resources to handle it successfullysuccessfully

Power in the home as a substitute for power in Power in the home as a substitute for power in the workplace? (2006 film: “The Waitress” the workplace? (2006 film: “The Waitress”


Social structure: AgeSocial structure: Age

Violence more common for those in the Violence more common for those in the 15-35 age range (same as with street 15-35 age range (same as with street crimes)crimes)

These are also the prime years of family These are also the prime years of family formationformation

For child abuse and elder abuse, an For child abuse and elder abuse, an obvious connection with age. obvious connection with age.


Social structure: Race/ethnicitySocial structure: Race/ethnicity

Minorities over-representedMinorities over-representedGelles says this reflects “both the reality Gelles says this reflects “both the reality

of greater risk of abuse and violence in of greater risk of abuse and violence in these groups and the fact that abuse and these groups and the fact that abuse and violence in these groups are over-reported violence in these groups are over-reported to official agencies.”to official agencies.”

This may be largely the result of more This may be largely the result of more poverty and more persistent povertypoverty and more persistent poverty


Sociological theories: selected Sociological theories: selected propositions from Gellespropositions from Gelles

Violent acts by violent persons may Violent acts by violent persons may produce desired results (intimidation)produce desired results (intimidation)

The more resources a person has, the The more resources a person has, the less he or she will need to use force in an less he or she will need to use force in an open manner. open manner.

Related to the first two propositions, the Related to the first two propositions, the principle of costs and rewards helps to principle of costs and rewards helps to explain family violence. explain family violence.


Why do victims stay?Why do victims stay?

Battered self-esteem and isolationBattered self-esteem and isolation Intimidation/fear of more violenceIntimidation/fear of more violenceLack of resourcesLack of resourcesRole of Role of

police/prosecutors/family/communitypolice/prosecutors/family/communityReligious misinterpretationsReligious misinterpretations


Feminist theory and batteringFeminist theory and battering

Gelles: “Feminist theory is becoming the Gelles: “Feminist theory is becoming the dominant model for explaining violence dominant model for explaining violence toward women.” toward women.”

Cross cultural researchCross cultural researchContains both an explanation and a solutionContains both an explanation and a solutionMany feminist scholars are sociologistsMany feminist scholars are sociologists

““Feminist theory offers a single-variable Feminist theory offers a single-variable analysis, albeit a powerful one, in a multi-analysis, albeit a powerful one, in a multi-variable world.” variable world.”


How did battering emerge as a How did battering emerge as a social problem?social problem?

Battered women’s movement, beginning in Battered women’s movement, beginning in England in the early 1970s: England in the early 1970s: Scream Scream Softly…Softly…

In the U.S., early priority of NOWIn the U.S., early priority of NOWFirst four shelters, including the one in First four shelters, including the one in

Duluth, funded by legislature in 1977Duluth, funded by legislature in 1977Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention ProjeDuluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Proje

ctct, beginning in early 1980, beginning in early 1980


““The Duluth Model”The Duluth Model”

Cooperation among criminal justice, social Cooperation among criminal justice, social welfare, and advocacy organizationswelfare, and advocacy organizations

Arrest policyArrest policy24 weeks of group counseling mandated 24 weeks of group counseling mandated

for abusers as a condition of probationfor abusers as a condition of probationViolence is recognized as a means of Violence is recognized as a means of

power and controlpower and control


Basic principles(selected)Basic principles(selected) The first priority of intervention should be to carry out The first priority of intervention should be to carry out

policies and protocols which protect the victim from further policies and protocols which protect the victim from further harm and whenever possible, the burden of holding harm and whenever possible, the burden of holding abusers accountable should rest with the community, not abusers accountable should rest with the community, not the victim. the victim.

The primary focus of intervention is on stopping the The primary focus of intervention is on stopping the assailant's use of violence, not on fixing or ending the assailant's use of violence, not on fixing or ending the relationship. relationship.

In general, the court avoids prescribing a course of action In general, the court avoids prescribing a course of action for the victim, e.g., does not force a victim to testify by for the victim, e.g., does not force a victim to testify by threatening jail, nor mandate treatment for the victim. threatening jail, nor mandate treatment for the victim.

Policies and procedures should act as a general deterrent Policies and procedures should act as a general deterrent to battering in the community. to battering in the community.

All interventions must account for the power imbalance All interventions must account for the power imbalance between the assailant and the victim. between the assailant and the victim.


Duluth Domestic Abuse Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention ProjectIntervention Project

Domestic Abuse Information Manual Domestic Abuse Information Manual


Violence against childrenViolence against children

First publicized in the U.S. as the result of First publicized in the U.S. as the result of an article by pediatric radiologists in JAMA an article by pediatric radiologists in JAMA in 1962: “The Battered Child Syndrome”in 1962: “The Battered Child Syndrome”

Much more difficult to measure than Much more difficult to measure than battering of adultsbattering of adults

2001: 3 million reports of child abuse or 2001: 3 million reports of child abuse or neglect to state or local welfare agenciesneglect to state or local welfare agencies


Control agenciesControl agencies

Laws requiring reporting of suspected abuse by Laws requiring reporting of suspected abuse by teachers and medical personnelteachers and medical personnel

Family courtFamily court Social welfare agenciesSocial welfare agencies

Minnesota Department of Human ServicesMinnesota Department of Human Services Video: “Failure to Protect”Video: “Failure to Protect”


CausesCauses

Social organization of the family: intensity Social organization of the family: intensity and isolationand isolation

Lack of knowledge about child Lack of knowledge about child developmentdevelopment

Adult caregivers who were themselves Adult caregivers who were themselves abused as childrenabused as children

InequalityInequalityPower and control againPower and control againCultural beliefs about punishment?Cultural beliefs about punishment?


Is spanking a form of child abuse?Is spanking a form of child abuse?

Social movement: outlawing of spanking Social movement: outlawing of spanking in the Scandinavian countries—ultimate in the Scandinavian countries—ultimate success of this movement unknownsuccess of this movement unknown

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: no Universal Declaration of Human Rights: no proscription on spankingproscription on spanking

Symbolic interactionismSymbolic interactionismMeaning of the behaviorMeaning of the behaviorEffects on selfEffects on self

What are the dangers? What are the dangers?


Consequences of child abuseConsequences of child abuse

An estimated 30% of those who are An estimated 30% of those who are abused become abusers, compared with abused become abusers, compared with 5% of the general population5% of the general population

Chesney-Lind, Wisconsin study: 79% of Chesney-Lind, Wisconsin study: 79% of the girls in the juvenile justice system had the girls in the juvenile justice system had been abused, physically or sexuallybeen abused, physically or sexually


SolutionsSolutions

Parenting educationParenting education ““Visiting nurse” programs (Elmira)Visiting nurse” programs (Elmira) Parents Anonymous and the likeParents Anonymous and the like Removal of children by Child Protective ServicesRemoval of children by Child Protective Services Legal changes to more quickly terminate Legal changes to more quickly terminate

parental rightsparental rights High quality childcare for mothers that are poor, High quality childcare for mothers that are poor,

young, singleyoung, single Less poverty and racial injusticeLess poverty and racial injustice

sociology 1201 domestic violence dfn: violence between family members or between men and women in...

Documents

family violence

intimate violence

forms of violence

national violence

domestic violence dfn

risk of child abuse

wife abuse

elder abuse