FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

• NCJ Number: 59575
• Author(s): L E WALKER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, MARCH 1979

Annotation

THE CURRENT RESEARCH AND THEORIES EXPLAINING CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE REVIEWED AND CRITICIZED FROM A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE.

Abstract

THE FEMINIST VIEWPOINT OF SPOUSE ABUSE HOLDS THAT VIOLENCE STEMS FROM INEQUALITY IN POWER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN. CHILD ABUSE, MARITAL RAPE, GIRLCHILD INCEST AND PARENTAL ABUSE ARE ALSO DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. VARIOUS CAUSATION THEORIES GROUPED INTO THREE CATEGORIES STRESSING INTERRELATEDNESS ARE FEMINIST-POLITICAL, SOCIO-CULTURAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES. RESEARCH SUPPORTING EACH OF THE CATEGORIES IS DISCUSSED WITH EMPHASIS ON FEMINIST CRITIQUE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSATION OF VIOLENCE IN THE HOME IS COMPLEX AND MULTIDETERMINED BY AN INTERACTION OF MANY OF THE THEORIES. SOCIETY CONDONES VIOLENCE IN GENERAL AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SPECIFICALLY. ELIMINATION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE WILL REQUIRE LONG-TERM PREVENTIVE APPROACHES, SECONDARY-LEVEL INTERVENTION (TO ENCOURAGE REPORTING AND DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM), AND A TERTIARY LEVEL OF CARE IN THE FORM OF SHELTER AND SAFEHOUSES WITH PSYCHOTHERAPY. MORE RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ITS CAUSES, AND EVALUATION OF SERVICE PROGRAMS IS ESSENTIAL. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (MJW)