Domestic and Family Violence Sociology of Crime - Management Assignment Help

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Domestic and Family Violence
Introduction
According to the American Medical Association, over 2 million women globally experience violence from their partners. From these statistics, we can deduce that domestic violence is an issue in society. Therefore, it is essential to understand domestic and family violence (DFV) from different perspectives. Understanding DFV thoroughly is necessary to stop this violence worldwide.
Domestic violence is violence between close partners where one of the partners attempts to exercise power and control over the other, usually by instilling fear (Bernardi & Steyn, 2020). However, it can occur in different ways: social, sexual, economic, physical, emotional, or spiritual. Family violence is a type of violence that involves family members, which includes siblings, intimate partners, or between a child and a parent.
The United Nations’ definition of DFV states that it is a behavioural pattern attempting to acquire and retain power and control over one’s partner. The abuse varies from threatening, emotional, physical, psychological or economical. It can also include behaviours that hurt, torture, blame, manipulate or intimidate. Domestic violence involves a wide range of behaviours. Being conversant with the signs is essential, being aware of the prevalence of violence and providing an opportunity to take appropriate measures to intervene. Family violence can be a partner’s constant bullying because they want to control the other. Physical abuse involves weapons, physical attacks, and attacks on the partner’s children. Another form of abuse is damaging a partner’s self-esteem by compelling them with another person and blaming the partner for the relationship’s problems. Sexual abuse involves the use of insults related to sexuality, sexual activity without the other partner’s consent, physical assault and rape. Social abuse consists of isolating a person from family members and friends, restricting a person from interacting with other people. Economic abuse involves controlling all finances, such as denial of access to cash or cards. Ultimately, it is important to look at how the existing literature defines and explores DFV, how research relates it to gender, and what theories are applied or used in exploring the issue.
Prevalence of DFV
In Australia, DFV affects women, children, and men with women and children the most vulnerable. The most common abuse is sexual violence, women in Australia as young as fifteen are subjected to domestic violence (Douglas et al., 2019). Over 30 per cent of women suffer from DFV, while the proportion of men exposed to violence is as low as 6 per cent. These statistics have remained constant and since 2014 the rate of assaults has risen considerably, with reports of many cases of violence in families, such violence sometimes resulting in death (A.I.H.W, 2019). Some women also face the risk of being assaulted, including pregnant women, women living with disabilities, and financially insecure women.
Apart from men and women, children are at risk of being exposed to violence. The effects of children being exposed to violence is harmful, causing long-term problems in later life. The problems include poor development and mental problems. Children exposed to domestic violence run the risk it will be reproduced as an adult. Children exposed to violence have difficulty at school, abuse drugs, alcohol and suffer from depression or other mental issues. These children can either become victims of this kind of violence or witnesses to violence, e.g. their mothers being assaulted. Just like women, girls also experience violence more than boys. In Australia, almost 50,000 cases of children being exposed to violence were reported. (A.I.H.W.2019).
In Australia, the last decade has seen an increase in cases of DFV affecting Indigenous people. This violence causes a significant disadvantage to the social organisation of Indigenous citizens. In 2015, around 14 per cent of women from Indigenous communities experienced violence, with most cases being related to intimate partners. In the same year, the number of women from Indigenous communities being hospitalised due to domestic violence rose.
 

Frequency and Severity of DFV
According to a World Health Organization (W.H.O)., report, the frequency of DFV affects women more than males, as females’ sexual, physical, and mental health is affected significantly by such abuse. WHO states that around 35 per cent of women experience different violence types in their societies? The forms of abuse include sexual, emotional, and physical violence. Most of the cases involve violence between very close partners. However, statistics vary depending on locality. Close partners are responsible for over half the murders of women worldwide. Women who have been abused either sexually or physically often experience some health complications. It is believed that women who are sexually abused might later give birth to underweight children. Women who have experienced CSA (childhood sexual abuse) suffer high degrees of trauma, stress and fear during pregnancy. These cause complications including premature birth, such problems are less common in women who have not suffered childhood sexual abuse. Sexually abused women might also experience depression and sexually transmitted diseases.
Often, violence between partners leads to severe effects on the victims, as they can suffer from injuries such as bruises and cuts or severe wounds; they also suffer from mental health problems as a result of the trauma experienced, and the events leading to the violence. As a result of trauma, victims experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Victims of family violence are in high risk to develop PTSD, because each violent episode is a trauma, an event that is uncontrollable or life threatening.
Although most societies and organisations place emphasis on violence against women, and omit men, it is important to note that male partners also suffer from acts of DFV. Men also die through DFV from violent female partners. Men represent 15% of all cases of DFV, also are less likely to seek medical attention, so it goes unreported. (A.I.H.W. 2019)., the ‘dark figure’ of crime.
 

Context of DFV

Domestic violence is common in intimate relationships, and it is often characterised by the repetitive occurrence of individual behaviour (Gennari et al., 2018). Most partners who engage in violence claim that their conduct resulted from the danger posed to them by their partners. Therefore, this type of violence occurs in response to the perceived threat. Women often claim that they resorted to killing their partners because they had perceived danger.
Another theory that can explain the phenomenon is Ragavan and colleagues’ research reports that men and women are both involved in cases of DFV. In the recent past, increasingly, women have been arrested in connection with cases of partner abuse. Due to this, research has intensified to identify the reasons for women’s involvement in DFV. Studies show that women resort to violence more often as self-defence. However, feminist theories have stated that there is a need for gender equality and that the reason for women’s involvement in DFV is self-defence.
Society and the criminal justice system’s perceptions differ on how they perceive family and domestic violence. According to the traditional perspective, it is all about defending one’s right to life without including the characteristics of a victim of violence as self-defence. However, the criminal justice system does exclude the link between a partner who killed their abuser because of the abuse received whether it is sexual, emotional, or physical. However, family conflict theories propose that the motivation behind men’s and women’s involvement in violence is anger or the need to resolve issues.
It is important to note that the motives behind men’s and women’s involvement in DFV are almost the same. A good example is the need for self-defence. Here, one partner seems to threaten the life of the other partner. Therefore, the other partner engages in violence to protect their life. This motive is more prevalent among women.
In some cases, a partner might seem to be the overall head of the family, so the other partner wants to exert the same power, resulting in violence (Tsantefski et al., 2021). This motive is common with men when they feel that a woman has more control than them, but who initiates domestic violence more? ‘Women admitted perpetrating more violence (25% versus 11%), as well as being victimised by violence (19% versus 16%) than men did. According to both men and women, 50% of this was reciprocal, that is, involved both parties, and in those cases the woman was the most likely to have been the first to strike. (A.I.H.W.,2019).
 

DFV as a Gender Problem
DFV is a gender problem, as women were regarded as second-class citizens in society. Feminist theories maintain different views about women’s rights in society. (Gorman, 2019). Women were unable to express their grievances, opinions and were victims of abuse, be it sexual or physical, they could not get help. However, with the modern generation, any cases of women being abused, or any form of violence directed towards them have been criminalised. Feminist theories best explain domestic violence in modern society.
Violence today is still directed at women, almost 90 per cent (A.I.H.W. 2019). This means that DFV is a gender problem directed towards females in society (Reeves & Meyer, 2021). It is important to note that women experience different kinds of violence than men. A good example is sexual violence; the probability of women suffering this type of violence is higher than that of males. Aggression is mainly associated with males and it is widely acknowledged that most gender-based violence is inflicted on women and girls by men. The abuse of women causes a significant threat to their lives and many women attempt suicide due to childhood experiences.
It is essential to get rid of the notion that DFV is gender neutral. This perspective has led to a general belief that men need the same help – just as much as women. This perspective assumes that a person experiences violence from an intimate partner without further distinction. The relationship between gender and violence is a complex. Evidence suggests that gender inequalities increases the risk of violence by men against women and inhibit the ability of those affected to seek protection. Domestic violence is a human issue not a gender issue, which can occur between heterosexual or same sex partners. When we define DFV as a gender-neutral problem, women in society will be at increased disadvantage because they will lack their fundamental right to protection. Budget provisions by a government aimed at empowering women in the community will significantly decrease if violence is only defined as gender neutral. There need to be separate services for men and women so that the activities of women, who most are victims, are not affected.
Despite women being the victims most affected by DFV, it is also essential to advocate for men’s rights but not by basing laws on the assumption that DFV is gender neutral. Men are also victims of violence, and need consideration to. As expressed above, men and women will require different kinds of support associated with DFV. An example would be the case of a woman in a sexually abusive relationship and the case of a man experiencing violence from his sexual partner and the difference here is that women have more resources to turn for help than men do. There is a need to exert more effort collectively in society so that DFV can be ended. Recent developments have seen a rise in male abuse cases but a decline in violence between partners. (A.I.H.W.2019).
The best solution to DFV might be to approach it as a gender problem. That could be the basis of the campaign against domestic violence. However, basing the effort on this simplistic assumption leaves out males and prioritises women. The aim should be to create a situation where the needs of men and women are addressed equally.
 

Conclusion

Domestic violence seems to affect females more than males. Women have been greatly affected by domestic violence in society. Feminist theories try to understand domestic violence by looking at the family in terms of male dominance.
Feminist theories believe that society has different expectations about women’s behaviours and attitudes. This theory compares feminism and masculinity. In society, women suffer at the hands of men who violate their rights in different ways, including sexual harassment and physical torture: domestic violence is perpetrated by men, and the victims are women.
Feminists also believe that women have been left behind in terms of their rights and freedoms. Women are regularly exposed to violence but airing their views and concerns is becoming a problem in society. Men are highly valued compared to females in making important decisions in the community. Men often torture women sexually or physically; however, society does not seem concerned with the issue, mainly because of the unequal power relationship between men and women; violence is directed against a woman because she is a woman.
As well, feminists also believe that finding answers to society’s problems creates equitable and just solutions. A solution to domestic violence should be designed to address the issues affecting men, women, and children in society.
Domestic and family violence is a significant problem in society. Appropriate remedies need to be put in place to address it. DFV affects everyone in the community: men, children, and women. However, women have suffered more from the violence directed at them. Different perceptions about such violence have emerged; some claim it is gender neutral. Other people see it is a gender problem. The perspective that seems most appropriate is that DFV is a gender problem because women have suffered more from it than men. Nevertheless, men also suffer from violence, and there appears to be a need to advance policies that address both men’s and women’s requirements.

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