Domestic Violence

Ermira Danaj CIES-IUL, Lisboa, 18th of September, 2013

Definitions of DVAW Historical Background Various Perspectives Power and Control Wheel Worldwide figures and facts DVAW Conventions Case study : Albania Short documentary

Structure of the lecture

1993 definition of VAW in the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women defines as: manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women... any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

Inclusion of marital rape.

CoE Convention on preventing and combating VAW and DV (Istanbul 2011) violence against women is understood as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women and shall mean all acts of genderbased violence that result in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or ..

Domestic violence shall mean all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit, or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim.

International Convention Definitions

Narrow definitions: wife battery; physical and sexual violence Broad definitions : + psychological and emotional abuse that can be just as injurious as physical violence Various definitions : wife battery; family violence; domestic violence; intimate partner violence; violence against women in the family; etc. Sociologists (and psychologists) have identified domestic violence to include physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, economic abuse, and psychological abuse IPV : pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors that may include inflicted physical injury; psychological abuse; sexual assault; progressive social, physical, or financial isolation; stalking; deprivation; extreme jealousy and possessiveness; and intimidation and threats perpetrated by someone who is, was, or wishes to be involved in an intimate or dating relationship with an adult or adolescent, and are aimed at establishing control by one partner over the other. IPV renaming was required as it incorporates violence against intimates who are not married or cohabitating or who may no longer be intimate. Dating violence was recognized as a social problem in the 1990s, especially among teenagers Gender symmetry? Dobash and Dobash (1992): wives and husbands use of violence differ greatly both quantitatively and qualitatively Michael Kimmel (2002) in a review of CTS (Conflict Tactic Scale) found that violence is instrumental in maintaining control and that more than 90% of systematic, persistent and injurious violence is perpetrated by men.

Definitions

 Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive and threatening behaviors that may include physical, emotional, economic and sexual violence as well as intimidation, isolation and coercion. Domestic violence can include threats of violence, physical harm, attacks against property or pets or other acts of intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, and use of children as a means of control. Domestic violence is intentional behavior. The purpose of domestic violence is to establish and exert power and control over another. Men most often use it against their intimate partners, which can include current or former spouses, girlfriends, or dating partners. Batterers use a wide range of coercive and abusive behaviors against their victims. Some of the abusive behaviors used by batterers result in physical injuries that harm the victim both physically and emotionally. Other techniques employed by batterers involve emotionally abusive behaviors. While these behaviors may not result in physical injuries, they are still psychologically damaging to the victim. (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights)

Until the 1970s, research on mens VAW in Western countries was very limited in terms of quality and quantity. Most research was based on a criminological approach or on empirical studies, which aimed to identify the causes of violence (biological and psychological, drug and alcohol abuse perspectives were the more dominant). Violence as an exceptional act. Also, domestic violence was considered as a private issue, as being provoked by the incorrigible wife, as a right of the man to discipline his wife, etc. Womens liberation movement and revolutions inside the social sciences . Personal is political. During the 1970s, VAW became a topic of public relevance. It began to attract scientific interest. For example, in 1971 the Journal of Marriage and the Family published a Double Special Issue on Violence and The Family and Sexism in Family Studies However at the beginning the research was quite limited, gender blind, focused more on physical violence and the reports to the police The feminist perspective in the social sciences changed also the perspective of analysis of DV. Deconstruction of the previous explanatory models, empirical analysis of the family as an asymmetrical field of power considering both the financial, cultural, sexual and affective aspects of relationships, as well as the relationships of love and dependence. Since then, VAW has become a public issue, not a private one. By documenting the histories of VAW, feminists created a space for the voice of women in the public arena. Activists opened shelters and activated phone-lines to support women who had been victims of violence; they demonstrated publicly against violence; they published books and pamphlets Studies were focused on women rather than on the perpetrators of violence (Katz, Mazur, 1979). The topics receiving most attention were sexual and domestic violence and violence in intimate relationships, which included physical violence, psychological-emotional violence, verbal, economic and sexual violence. Moreover the theme of rape in marriage into the scientific debate. (Russell, 1975; Martin, 1976; Dobash and Dobash 1979;) CEDAW in 1979/ UN Declaration against VAW 1993/ CoE Convention 2011/ Domestic legislation, etc.

Historical perspectives

Biological (the violence attributed to genes, someone is born violent

very weakly or not supported at all any more People who suffer from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia do not limit their violence to their intimate partners. Alcohol use, drug use, and stress do not cause domestic violence; they may go along with domestic violence. intergenerational transmission theory: male children are more likely to grow up to assault female intimates if their parents abused them or if they observed their fathers assaulting their spouses Both partners contribute to violence and the victims actions somehow justify the abusive response by the batterer (however, in 90% of cases the victim is the woman and the perpetrator is the man this model does not give any understanding of this).

Psychological (personality disorders, mental illness, etc) Drug-Alcohol Abuse

Social Learning

Family Conflict Model

Feminist perspectives: (Dobash and Dobash; Stark; DeKaseredy; Connell; Kimmel; Walby: etc)
Power and Control Perspective (Duluth Model) Coercive Control (inclusion of emotional and psychological violence as important as the physical one) Symbolic Violence perspective (basing on Bourdieus symbolic violence) Patriarchal theory (Sylvia Walby)

Various perspectives

 Model developed by Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth, Minnesota (http://www.theduluthmodel.org)

Since the early 1980s, Dulutha small community in northern Minnesotahas been an innovator of ways to hold batterers accountable and keep victims safe. The "Duluth Model" is an ever evolving way of thinking about how a community work together to end domestic violence (work with victims and offenders) the perpetrator use violence to gain power and control over their partners actions, thoughts and feelings. uses different abusive and threatening behaviors to maintain power and control over his partner

Power and Control model

The Power and Control Wheel demonstrates the relationship between physical and sexual violence and the intimidation, coercion, and manipulation of the wife and children that are often used by batterers. A batterer uses these tactics to reinforce the power and control established through physical and sexual violence.

Duluth model

 June 2013 WHO report on domestic and sexual violence:

about a third of women have been physically or sexually assaulted by a former or current partner. 40 percent of women killed worldwide were killed by an intimate partner, and being assaulted by a partner was the most common kind of violence experienced by women.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/domesticviolence_n_3474032.html http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/sep/15/domesti c-violence-men-killing-women?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

Data and facts

CEDAW Recomandation 19 gender-based violence is not specifically mentioned in the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in 1992 the Committee overseeing CEDAW implementation adopted General Recommendation 19, which states that it is a form of discrimination that inhibits a womans ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men. It asks that governments take this into consideration when reviewing their laws and policies. UN Declaration on the Elimination of VAW 1993

http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/48/a48r104.htm
Affirming that violence against women constitutes a violation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of women and impairs or nullifies their enjoyment of those rights and freedoms, and concerned about the long-standing failure to protect and promote those rights and freedoms in the case of violence against women, Recognizing that violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women, and that violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men, In 1994, the Commission on Human Rights appointed Radhika Coomaraswamy, from Sri Lanka, to the position of Special Rapporteur on VAW (since then, Yakin Erturk and the current Rashida Manjoo) Beijing Platform for Action 1995 identifies domestic violence as a human rights violation CoE convention for the prevention and combatting VAW and DV http://www.conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=210&CM=&DF=&CL=ENG

International documents

Under Albanian Law No.9669 of 18th December 2006 On Measures against Violence in Family Relations, domestic violence is an act committed by a person in a family relation, which results in violating physical, moral, psychological, sexual, social and economic integrity of a person, and as such is often a covert crime.
Four main objectives: 1. To set up a coordinated network of responsible authorities for protection, support, and rehabilitation of victims, mitigation of consequences, and prevention of domestic violence; 2. To direct efforts for the set up of responsible structures and authorities at the central and local level in support of victims and prevention of domestic violence; 3. To empower the judiciary in taking protection measures against domestic violence; and 4. To ensure/guarantee quick, affordable, and simple services to the victims of domestic violence provided by courts and other law enforcement agencies in compliance with the law.

Case Study: Albania

Types of Domestic Violence

Emotional Violence
undermining an individuals sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. This may include constant criticism, humiliation, diminishing ones abilities, name-calling, degradation, and damaging ones relationship with his or her children.
includes causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partners family or friends; threats of abandonment; destruction of pets and property threats to take away custody of the children; forcing isolation from family, friends, school and/or work and denying access to money or economic support.

Psychological Violence

Sexual Violence
includes forcing, coercing, or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner. Sexual abuse is committed by intimate partners and family members within the context of marriage dating relationships, and family.
includes, but is not limited to: scratching, pushing, shoving, grabbing, biting, choking, pinching, poking, hairpulling, arm twisting, slapping, hitting, burning, stabbing, and strangling. Physical violence can include the use of ones physical size and strength, restraints, or weapons (e.g., gun, knife, or other object) to gain and maintain control over another person. Physical violence often causes some form of harm or injury, and can even result in death

Physical Violence

The definition of DV in the 2009 survey: Domestic violence includes physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological actions or threat of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, hurt, injure, or wound someone

% of women 15-49 who experience DV Emotional abuse Psychological abuse Physical violence Sexual violence 50.6% 39.1 31.2 12.7

Data from National Survey of UNDP and INSTAT 2009

 The percentage of non respondents varied from as many as 35.9% for emotional abuse, 29.6% for physical violence and psychological abuse, and 23.2% for sexual violence. Women who did not respond were most likely unwilling or reluctant to report and speak out about their experiences with domestic violence. Thus, the prevalence estimates in the table are most likely underestimates It is important to note that while 31.2% of women reported experiencing physical violence, 45.6% of women reported they did not experience any of the forms of physical violence measured in the survey. In addition, 23.2% of women did not or were unwilling to answer questions about physical violence in their marriage or intimate relationship.

Data and results

 Women with all level of education responded to experience domestic violence. However there must be notice a difference regarding women with university that are less likely to experience domestic violence compared to the other level of education. There is also difference between women in rural areas and urban areas: in urban areas women are less likely to experience domestic violence. The difference however is not very significant. 88% of women who experienced domestic violence reported the violence emotional, psychological, physical, and/or sexual began within the first three years of marriage or living together with their husband or intimate partner

Cont

Sought help from Own family Husband/partners family Other relatives Friends Religious leaders Medical doctors/professionals Police 90.7% 34.0 13.9 9.3 1 1.5 1.5

Lawyer
Social service organizations Judge

3.1
0.5 5.7

Seeking for help: 16.8% of emotionally abused women, 20% of psychologically abused women, 20% of physically battered women sought help, and 27.3% of sexually abused women

Minessota Advocates for Human Rights: there are many social, economic and cultural reasons a woman might chose to stay in an abusive relationship. They may fear retaliation against themselves or their children, or they may not be able to financially support themselves or their children. They may be excluded by their family and community if they leave.

Different countries, same pictures

Reasons for not seeking help No improvement would happen Dont know where to seek help Fear it would bring a bad reputation to their familys name 25.8 18.4 18.4

Fear for being beaten even more Thinks she will be blamed for her own victimization
Fear it would lead to divorce or end of relationship Thinks she would not be taken seriously or would be ridiculed Fear of losing ones children Violence is normal/ no reason to complain

15.3 10.0
10.0 7.9 5.3 3.7

Albania cont.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v2LmM_FO-U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wooACFf362w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFqv8Azlsjc

Documentaries about DV

Connell, R. W. (1987). Gender and power: Society, the person and sexual politics. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, 2011, Istanbul DeKeseredy, W. S.; Schwartz, M. D. (2011). Theoretical and definitional Issues of Violence against Women. In: Renzetti, C. M. [et al.] (eds.). Sourcebook on violence against women. London: Sage, p. 3-30. Dobash, R. P., Dobash, R. E., Wilson, M., & Daly, M. (1992). The myth of sexual symmetry in marital vio-lence. Social Problems, 39, 71-91. Kristin. L. Anderson (2010). Conflict, Power, and Violence in Families. Journal of Marriage and Family 72 (June 2010): 726 742 Toffanin, Angela Maria. (2012). Research on violence against women: A sociological perspective, Interdisciplinary Journal of Family Studies, XVII, 1, 2012 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), 1979 Walby, Sylvia. 1990. Theorizing Patriarchy. Blackwell

Some references if interested to explore the issue