NCJ Number
60727
Date Published
1978
Length
44 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DISCUSSES PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY BATTERED WOMEN IN GETTING HELP FROM SOCIAL AGENCIES, DOCTORS, COURTS, AND POLICE, AND THE EFFECTS OF COMMON SOCIAL ATTITUDES ABOUT WIFE BEATING.
Abstract
BATTERED WOMEN OR THEIR HUSBANDS RARELY REPORT WIFE-BEATING INCIDENTS DUE TO SHAME, GUILT, AND FEAR. ALTHOUGH SOCIAL AGENCIES AND POLICE CAN OFFER MUCH-NEEDED HELP, THEY ARE OFTEN INDIFFERENT OR SUSPICIOUS OF BATTERED WOMEN. DOCTORS OFTEN DO NOT WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BUSY OR LACK HOLISTIC COUNSELING SKILLS. PSYCHIATRISTS, ACCEPTING THE NORM OF MALE DOMINANCE AND FEMALE SUBMISSION, OFTEN VIEW WIFE BEATING AS PROVOKED BY WOMEN WHO REFUSE TO BE SUBMISSIVE OR WHO WANT TO BE VICTIMIZED. FURTHER, SINCE WOMEN PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN FORMING A CHILD'S CHARACTER, THEY ARE OFTEN BLAMED FOR THE CHILDHOOD PERSONALITY DEFICIENCIES THAT EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ADULT VIOLENCE. THUS, PSYCHIATRISTS MAY UNWITTINGLY JUSTIFY OR HELP OTHERS JUSTIFY WIFE BEATING, INCLUDING THOSE WHO SEEK THEIR HELP IN ESCAPING IT. BELEAGUERED SOCIAL AGENCIES OFTEN IGNORE BATTERED WOMEN SINCE THE PROBLEM DOES NOT AFFECT LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE. SOCIAL WORKERS THEMSELVES ARE OFTEN UNSYMPATHETIC TO BATTERED WIVES; THEIR TRAINING TEACHES THEM TO DETACH THEMSELVES FROM THEIR CLIENTS, THEY ACCEPT TRADITIONAL PSYCHIATRIC OPINION ABOUT WOMEN, OR CONSIDER VIOLENCE A PART OF LIFE FOR CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE. POLICE BECAUSE THEY ARE INADEQUATELY TRAINED OR ENCOURAGED NOT TO INTERFERE IN FAMILY PROBLEMS, DO NOT OFTEN ARREST WIFE BEATERS OR CONSIDER SUCH ASSAULTS CRIMES UNLESS THE WIFE INCURS SERIOUS BODILY HARM. THEY DO NOT WISH TO INVADE THE SANCTITY OF THE HOME, BELIEVING THE WIFE WILL NOT PRESS CHARGES. ALTHOUGH THE WORK IS ANNOTATED, FOOTNOTES ARE NOT INCLUDED. (PAP)