NCJ Number
144653
Journal
Women and Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 91-114
Date Published
1993
Length
24 pages
Annotation
The author advances a feminist perspective on the problem of maternal child abuse.
Abstract
The perspective begins with an assessment of the fundamental nature of the oppression of women in the patriarchal society and in the family, and attributes this condition as a major cause of child abuse. Conventional analyses that attempt to prove the correlation between parents' stress and their violence toward their children have overlooked the importance of the patriarchal structure. Regardless of stress level, parents with less patriarchal attitudes have been shown to abuse their children less. In the words of one source, "...the more violent husbands are toward their wife the more violent the wife is toward their children [thus] being a victim of violence is strongly related to engaging in violence oneself." With a feminist perspective, explanations of child abuse could and should parallel those of woman abuse, steering away from blaming the victim. 7 endnotes and 38 references