ZeePedia

GENDER AND VIOLENCE:Domestic Violence, Patriarchal terrorism

<< GENDER, WORK & RELATED ISSUES:Sexual Harassment at Workplace
GENDER AND HEALTH:The Significance of Women’s Health >>
img
Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)
VU
Lesson 29
GENDER AND VIOLENCE
Violence against women is an important gender-issue for all concerned. It is a matter of concern for all these
involved in the efforts for women empowerment and gender equality. Violence in all forms whether at
workplace, or on the roadside, or domestic violence, is and indicator of one class of citizens being oppressed
and exploited by another in a dominant positions. Before discussing this issue further, let us imagine these
hypothetical situations:
Situation A:
"You are an educated, quite good looking, civilized, well groomed, capable, earning professional; you are living
with a person, whom you have to be with for the rest of your life; that person criticize you all the time without
any reason, ridicules you, makes fun of your looks, laughs at your ability, hurts you unnecessarily, and shouts at
you, and abuses you all the time".
May be irritated, agitated, angry, aggressive and hostile; or may be helpless, heart-broken, and depressed; or
may be all of these feelings are experienced by you.
Case B:
"You are a moderately educated, nice looking, sweet natured, shy, and quite person; you try your best to please
others; you are married to an ill tempered person who slaps you, beats you and pushes you at even the slightest
mistake that you make".
How will you feel?
Case C:
"You were married off by your parents, who gave a very lavish dowry on the wedding. After a few months
there were problems in the marriage and you are sent back to you parents by the in-laws, who confiscated the
entire dowry."
How will you feel?
The purpose of stating these hypothetical situations are to make you imagine and visualize how women in such
situations feel. All these situations represent only a few forms of violence practiced commonly against women.
Women, from childhood, are trained and taught to accept and adopt what others decide for them. In the same
manner they learn to accept minor forms of violence as a routine part of their life. Violence becomes an issue
when it is practiced on an ongoing basis, persistently, and in a severe form. Although both men and women
may be victims of some form of violence, the rate of female victims is higher. Besides domestic violence, many
other forms of violence are experienced by females much more than males. Rape being the most common and
severe form of violence experienced by women. Many other forms of violence are used in our part of the world
as compared to others, e.g., acid burning, stove burning etc. Violence can be defined as an emotionally charged
act marked by aggression, involving infliction of hurt or injury to the victim. Violence can be physical as well as
psychological. Sexual harassment is one form of violence.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is one of the commonest forms of violence experienced by women. "Domestic violence or
partner abuse is the physical, sexual or psychological maltreatment of a spouse, a former spouse, or an intimate
partner so as to gain or maintain power or control" (Papalia, Olds, and Feldman, 2001, p. 542). As compared to
other forms of violence e.g. homicide, domestic violence is quite unreported or under reported. Domestic
violence is exercised all over the world but no exact figures are available for any society, since most victims do
not report its occurrence due to various reasons i.e.,
_ Shame and embarrassment
_ Fear of breaking a relationship
_ Hope for an improvement in the relationship
79
img
Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)
VU
Whatever data is available is based upon the reported cases that are actually under reported. A survey of
women showed that out of the severely physically assaulted women, only 46 % reported the happening to the
police (Acierno, et. al., 1997).
There are two types of domestic violence (Johnson, 1995):
a) Common couple violence
b) Patriarchal terrorism
Common Couple Violence
This is the commonly exercised form of domestic violence. The conflict between the parties leads to an
argument that turns into a fight. It does involve physical violence that can be minor or major and serious. In
case of serious physical violence the likelihood of women being injured is higher form women than for men.
Patriarchal terrorism
This form is exercised by men alone. The man uses physical force along with other contrast strategies for
dominating his family. This form of violence may end up into injury and even death to women and children.
The likelihood of women being homicide victims as consequence of domestic violence is higher than the
likelihood of the same happening to men (Brannon, and Feist, 2000). Men are more likely to be physically hurt,
injured, or killed by strangers, whereas women are more likely to experience the same by the husband. In our
society and other group cohesive societies, it is not the husband alone who exercises domestic violence. Most
of the times he is supported, aided, and assisted by other relatives as well e.g. the in laws. Usually very severe
forms of domestic violence are reported; otherwise it does not come out of the boundaries of the household.
The victims do not report it due to fear or shame (Bachman, 1994).
The analysis of reported cases in the U.S. has shown that:
_ More than 9out of 10victims were women and as compared to men, they were more likely to be
seriously harmed.
_ Also, a woman abused once is more probable to be abused again
(Holtzworth-Munroe, and Stuart, 1994; U.S Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1994).
What Type of Women are Usually More Likely Victims of Domestic Violence?
_ Those belonging to the lower socio-economic class
_ Those financially dependent upon men
_ Less educated or uneducated women
_ Young women
_ Women less exposed to life outside the household
What Type of Men Usually Exercise Domestic Violence?
_ Less educated or uneducated men
_ Those belonging to the lower socio-economic class
_ Unemployed, or financially over burdened
_ Drug or alcohol abusers
_ Those who have experienced domestic violence being exercised in their home, as a child.
_ Those who do not feel any familial or social pressure against their violent acts.
Wife beating is more common in some societies than others. These are societies:
_ Where aggressive behavior is common otherwise too
_ Where women have an inferior status
_ Where physical force is used to resolve disputes, among other factors (Broude, 1994).
Impact of Domestic Violence on Women
_ Low self esteem, a shattered self-confidence, and heightened self-doubt
_ Fear of being tortured again
_ Helplessness
80
img
Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)
VU
_ Passive acceptance in many cases; they start believing that this is the way the life of a women is like,
and they deserve it too
How to Tackle the Issue!!!
Creating awareness of basic human rights
Education of legal rights
Establishment, and accessibility of legal aid centers, and shelter homes
Individual counseling and therapy
Family therapy
Men need to be educated, at all levels, about gender equality, human rights and civilized conduct
Media can play an important role
Other Forms of Violence against Women
Besides domestic violence, many other forms of violence are also experienced by women more commonly
than men:
_ Sexual violence
_ Rape
_ Physical assault by strangers
The Solution
Awareness and education about the likelihood of an incident, the probable sites, and places where help can be
found
Self defense training in case of a probable attack
Sensitization to the significance of prompt reporting in case an incidence has taken place
BUT remember, women alone are not the victims of domestic violence. Many men also experience domestic
violence from women.
In less serious violent incidents, many wives initiate the events and attack their husbands.
81
Table of Contents:
  1. INTRODUCTION:Common misconception, Some questions to ponder
  2. FEMINIST MOVEMENT:Forms or Varieties of Feminism, First wave feminists
  3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:Functionalism, Psychoanalytic Psychology:
  4. Gender- related Research:Andocentricity, Overgeneralizing, Gender Blindness
  5. RESEARCH METHODS FOR GENDER ISSUES:The Procedure of Content Analysis
  6. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH:Limitations Of Quantitative Research
  7. BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GENDERSHormones and Chromosomes
  8. BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GENDERS: HORMONES AND NERVOUS SYSTEM
  9. THEORIES OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT:The Biological Approach,
  10. THEORIES OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT (2):The Behavioral Approach
  11. THEORIES OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT (3):The Cognitive Approach
  12. THEORIES OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT (3):Psychoanalytic Feminism
  13. OTHER APPROACHES:The Humanistic Approach, Cultural Influences
  14. GENDER TYPING AND STEREOTYPING:Development of sex-typing
  15. GENDER STEREOTYPES:Some commonly held Gender Stereotypes
  16. Developmental Stages of Gender Stereotypes:Psychoanalytic Approach, Hostile sexism
  17. CULTURAL INFLUENCE & GENDER ROLES:Arapesh, Mundugumor
  18. DEVELOPMENT OF GENDER ROLE IDENTIFICATION:Gender Role Preference
  19. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY:GENDER DIFFERENCES IN BULLYING
  20. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY:GENDER, AFFILIATION AND FRIENDSHIP
  21. COGNITIVE DIFFERENCES:Gender Differences in I.Q, Gender and Verbal Ability
  22. GENDER AND MEDIA:Print Media and Portrayal of Genders
  23. GENDER AND EMOTION:The components of Emotions
  24. GENDER, EMOTION, & MOTIVATION:Affiliation, Love, Jealousy
  25. GENDER AND EDUCATION:Impact of Educational Deprivation
  26. GENDER, WORK AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT:Informal Work
  27. GENDER, WORK AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT (2):Glass-Ceiling Effect
  28. GENDER, WORK & RELATED ISSUES:Sexual Harassment at Workplace
  29. GENDER AND VIOLENCE:Domestic Violence, Patriarchal terrorism
  30. GENDER AND HEALTH:The Significance of Women’s Health
  31. GENDER, HEALTH, AND AGING:Genetic Protection, Behavioral Factors
  32. GENDER, HEALTH, AND AGING:Physiological /Biological Effects, Changes in Appearance
  33. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN AGING:Marriage and Loneliness, Empty Nest Syndrome
  34. GENDER AND HEALTH PROMOTING BEHAVIORS:Fitness and Exercise
  35. GENDER AND HEALTH PROMOTING BEHAVIOR:The Classic Alameda County Study
  36. GENDER AND HEART DISEASE:Angina Pectoris, The Risk factors in CHD
  37. GENDER AND CANCER:The Trend of Mortality Rates from Cancer
  38. GENDER AND HIV/AIDS:Symptoms of AIDS, Mode of Transmission
  39. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FEMALES’ REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
  40. OBESITY AND WEIGHT CONTROL:Consequences of Obesity, Eating Disorders
  41. GENDER AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:Gender, Stress and Coping
  42. GENDER AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:The Diagnostic Criteria
  43. GENDER AND PSYCHOTHERAPY:Traditional Versus Feminist Theory
  44. FEMINIST THERAPY:Changes targeted at societal level
  45. COURSE REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF NEW AVENUES FOR RESEARCH IN GENDER ISSUES