NCJ Number
180830
Date Published
1999
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This chapter considers how macrosocietal, racial, and cultural factors explain men's violence against women.
Abstract
In explaining men's violence against women, the authors address how racial and cultural factors are linked to societal and domestic violence. They suggest that an understanding of men's violence must consider societal, cultural, and individual levels of analysis, as well as the interaction of these three factors. The authors maintain that the use of violence in America has historical roots and institutional support based on racism, sexism, and classism. They hypothesize that institutional support for violence sends a message to everyone that violence is an acceptable part of our society. Acts of cultural violence are committed by those with power against those with less power. In turn, American society has learned to devalue those with less power, including women, people of color, and particularly women of color. This devaluation has made violence toward these groups acceptable. Moreover, this chapter considers cultural pressures within a variety of ethnic groups that pertain to men's expression of violence. The chapter also examines how unemployment, poverty, and undocumented immigration status can affect domestic violence. The authors argue that the interaction of these forces contributes to domestic violence. Thus, social, cultural, and racial factors put ethnic minorities at high risk for both societal and family violence. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the resilience factors that may help protect people of color from violence.