NCJ Number
222993
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2004 Pages: 30-48
Date Published
January 2004
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether young women in Finland were more sensitive than their older sisters to recognize violence and whether this sensitivity could be the reason why they reported in a survey such cases of violence that other women would not.
Abstract
The analysis showed that young women, aged 18 to 29 reported in the survey less severe violence more often than others, judged both by the given descriptions of the incidents and by the physical and psychological consequences caused by the violence. The difference in young women reporting more freely even less severe cases of violence narrowed when the duration of the violence was controlled by limiting its commencement to the past 5 years. The first survey carried out in Finland specifically to study men’s violence against women showed that partner violence is quite common in Finland and it is directed especially toward young women. However, life situation factors that are usually viewed as making women vulnerable to spousal violence, such as having children, low educational level, and financial dependency on the male partner failed to explain partnership violence against women in Finland. This study sought to determine whether differences in the reporting of violence in surveys are reflections of other cultural changes that had taken place in the way these sensitive issues are discussed. This could explain why violence in partnerships was so common among young women in Finland. Tables, notes, and references