NCJ Number
58870
Date Published
1974
Length
24 pages
Annotation
THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF WIFE BEATING ARE DISCUSSED IN A PAMPHLET FROM A FEMINIST ORGANIZATION.
Abstract
EVIDENCE THAT WIFE BEATING IS A RELATIVELY COMMON PRACTICE IS CITED, AND REASONS FOR THE LACK OF PUBLIC OUTCRY ABOUT THE PROBLEM ARE EXPLORED. MYTHS ABOUT THE OFFENDER-VICTIM RELATIONSHIP IN WIFE-BEATING SITUATIONS ARE DISCUSSED, AS ARE ATTITUDES THAT HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR MOST MEN WHO BEAT THEIR WIVES TO ESCAPE LEGAL ACTION. A CASE STUDY ILLUSTRATES THE PROBLEMS THAT CONFRONT WOMEN WHO ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM VIOLENT MARRIAGES. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS STEM FROM THE INSENSITIVITY OF PSYCHIATRISTS, WELFARE AGENCIES, POLICE, AND OTHERS TO WHOM SUCH WOMEN TURN FOR HELP. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY THAT BINDS WOMEN TO THEIR HUSBANDS, AND TO THE TENDENCY OF PSYCHIATRY TO VIEW WIFE BEATING AS A MATTER OF FEMALE PERSONALITY ABERRATIONS. PAST AND CURRENT CULTURAL PRACTICES INDICATIVE OF THE POWERLESSNESS OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND OF THE BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING ARE CITED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE LIKE TO THINK OF WIFE BEATING AS AN EXPRESSION OF PERSONAL PROBLEMS BY TWO SICK INDIVIDUALS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE MEN WHO DO THE BEATING ARE SICK, BUT THAT THEIR SICKNESS IS A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ONE THAT ALSO AFFLICTS MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. IT IS FURTHER CONCLUDED THAT, WHILE PROVIDING BATTERED WOMEN WITH REFUGES OFFERS A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION, THE ONLY LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO WIFE BEATING LIES IN THE ELIMINATION OF ALL ASPECTS OF MALE PRIVILEGE AND DOMINATION. (LKM)