NCJ Number
65511
Date Published
1978
Length
53 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF BATTERED WOMEN TO DETERMINE SOME OF THE IDEAS HELD ABOUT BATTERING AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE IDEAS ARE VALID CONCEPTIONS OR INVALID MYTHS.
Abstract
INVESTIGATION OF MYTHS AND STEREOTYPES ABOUT BATTERED WOMEN WAS CONDUCTED AMONG THE FEMALE CLIENTELE OF THE WOMEN'S TRANSITIONAL LIVING CENTER (WTLC) IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. A NUMBER OF METHODS AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION WAS USED. OFFICIAL RECORDS KEPT BY THE DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF WTLC WAS ONE, WHILE SELF-ADMINISTERED QUESTIONNAIRES FROM BATTERED WOMEN ADMINISTERED SHORTLY AFTER THEIR ADMITTANCE TO THE CENTER WAS ANOTHER. INDEPTH INTERVIEWS, STATEMENTS FROM ADOLESCENT AND TEENAGED YOUNGSTERS WHO WITNESSED HOUSEHOLD VIOLENCE, AND PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION BY THE RESEARCHER DURING WEEKLY DISCUSSION GROUPS AT THE WTLC WERE REMAINING SOURCES. SPECIFIC MYTHS OR STEREOTYPES WERE THE OBJECTS OF INVESTIGATION: 1) VICTIMIZED WOMEN ARE PATHOLOGICAL; 2) ABUSED WOMEN SOMEHOW PROVOKE THE MEN; 3) ABUSE IS SUSPECT IF THE WOMEN STAY IN THE HOME; 4) ABUSED WOMEN DO NOT PRESS CHARGES AGAINST THEIR HUSBANDS, AND 5) WIFE ABUSE IS RESTRICTED TO THE LOWER CLASSES. THESE MYTHS ARE CONTRADICTED, ONE-BY-ONE, USING THE DATA COLLECTED. FOR INSTANCE, THE DATA POINT UP THE QUESTION OF WHETHER ANY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO INFLICT PAIN AND INJURY ON ANOTHER PERSON WITH IMPUNITY REGARDLESS OF PROVOCATION. FURTHERMORE, THEY INDICATE THAT THE WOMAN STAYS WITH THE ABUSING HUSBAND BECAUSE SOCIETAL PRESSURES PREVENT HER FROM BREAKING THE CHAIN OF DEPENDENCY. ALSO, IT APPEARS THAT WOMEN DO NOT PRESS CHARGES BECAUSE THEY ARE IGNORANT OF THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS, THEY ARE SYSTEMATICALLY PERSUADED NOT TO DEMAND EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW, THEY HAVE NO PROTECTION AGAINST RETALIATION, OR THEY FACE INTENSE HUMILIATION FROM PUBLIC EXPOSURE WHEN THEY DO PRESS CHARGES. MORE AND LARGER STUDIES ON ABUSE ARE NEEDED. NEARLY 40 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.