NCJ Number
51384
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE ECONOMIC FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO AND THE COSTS OF WIFE BEATING, CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, RAPE, PROSTITUTION, PORNOGRAPHY, AND HARASSMENT AND BIASED MEDICAL CARE ARE ASSESSED. COSTS FACED BY VICTIMS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
WIFE BEATING IS GENERALLY REINFORCED BY ECONOMIC FACTORS. THE WOMAN IS GENERALLY ECONOMICALY DEPENDENT UPON HER HUSBAND AND SURVIVAL SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE IF SHE LEAVES HIM. ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY IS ALSO A FACTOR IN INCEST AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE BY CLOSE RELATIVES. MAINTAINING THE ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF THE FAMILY IS SEEN AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EXPOSING THE ABUSE. PROSTITUTION AND THE EXPLOITATION OF PORNOGRAPHY ALSO HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN LIMITED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN. A STUDY IN NEW YORK IN 1887 FOUND THAT MOST PROSTITUTES EARNED $1 A DAY BEFORE BEGINNING PROSTITUTION, WERE COMFORTABLY SUPPORTING THEMSELVES AFTERWARD. COSTS CENTER AROUND MEDICAL BILLS, TIME LOST FROM WORK, AND DAMAGE TO THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE. THE COSTS ARE MOST OBVIOUS WHEN THE BATTERING REACHES A SEVERE STATE, BUT THE UNDERLYING DAMAGE THAT FAMILY ABUSE AND SEXUAL ABUSE HAS ON THE PERSONALITY OF CHILDREN AND PARTICIPANTS CAN ALSO BE SEVERE. A LIST OF COSTS IS PRESENTED FOR THE RAPE VICTIM, WHO USUALLY MUST PAY FOR HER OWN EXAMINATION TO DETERMINE THAT SHE HAS BEEN RAPED. VICTIM COMPENSATION IS URGED FOR RAPE CASES AND LONG TERM ASSISTANCE IS URGED TO HELP THE BATTERED WIFE RECEIVE TRAINING AND ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE. GREATER PROSECUTION OF THOSE WHO ASSAULT WOMEN OR WHO ABUSE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY IS URGED. GREATER ECONOMIC EQUALITY FOR WOMEN WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE FAMILY IS URGED. (GLR)