Chapter 7 Lecture

Fist

Preventing Abuse against Women

Reality of Violence Against Women

• The concept and treatment of women as the lesser sex is documented throughout history
• Historical records reveal that husbands tended to batter their wives less in the 19th century than in the late 20th century
• Abuse of women encompasses a wide spectrum of behaviors, from sexually derogatory remarks to rape and from battering to murder
• Tragically, in the US, nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have been raped in their lives
• 51% of women reported being raped by an intimate partner; 41% by an acquaintance

• The prevalence of violence against women varies little among all cultures, marital status, or socioeconomic groups
• The perpetrator is usually someone the victim knows (acquaintance violence)
• An adult female today is more likely to be raped, beaten, and killed in her own home (domestic abuse) at the hands of her male partner vs. any place or by anyone else
• Children from abusive families are more likely to grow up to be abusive parents

The Extent of the Problem

• 1 in 3 women have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate lifetime
• 1 in 3 women experience multiple forms of rape, stalking, or physical violence
• 1 in 4 have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner
• 50% have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner
• 1 in 5 women have been raped; 1 in 10 by an intimate partner
• 1 in 6 women have experienced stalking

Why Women Stay in
Abusive Relationships

• Love for the abuser is the primary reason given
• The partner may be the father of the children
• The partner may be the sole bread winner of the family, which creates financial dependence
• Some women have no resources or emotional support, outside the relationship
• Many barriers exist, discouraging women from leaving the abusive relationship

Childhood Abuse

Childhood abuse consists of maltreatment of a child before the age of 18 through physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, or exploitation, and/or negligent treatment by an individual(s) who are responsible for the child’s welfare
• Categorized into 4 types:
• Childhood physical abuse
• Childhood abuse by neglect
• Childhood emotional abuse
• Childhood sexual abuse

Abuse and Adult Women

• Females who are abused during childhood often expect to be abused or feel they deserve abuse during their adult relationships
• Abuse inflicted on adult women often takes forms similar to child abuse
• Types:
• Physical Abuse
• Psychological Abuse

Physical Abuse

• Physical abuse or battery is the most overt type of domestic violence adult women encounter
• Perpetrators may target specific areas of the body, where bruises or abrasions are difficult to detect
• Involves 3 stages, also known as ‘the cycle’ that are repeated over a period of time:
• Increased tension building
• Acute battering incident
• A calm, loving, less tense period of time

Psychological Abuse

• Financial disadvantages
• Young children at home
• Fear for herself and her children
• Threatening harm
• Ultimate control of behavior
• Isolation

Sexual Assault

• Describes numerous forms of sexual improprieties and sexual violence toward another individual
• Rape is sexual intercourse forced on women and is considered an act of violence, aggression, power, and control vs. an act of sexual desire
• Types of rape classifications:
• Stranger Rape
• Acquaintance Rape
• Date Rape
• Marital Rape
• The use of alcohol and/or drugs can set up a woman to become a victim of rape

Other Forms of Violence Against Women

• Murder

    • Intimate partner homicides comprise 40-50% of all murders of women in the US

• Same Sex Domestic Violence

    • Violence against gay individuals and gay partners have increased in recent years
    • In 2003, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, or transgender people (GBT) experienced 6,523 incidents of domestic violence

• Sexual Harassment

    • Abusive form of treatment that takes place most often in the workplace or educational setting

Elder Abuse

• Many victims are people who are older, frail, vulnerable and cannot help themselves, and depend on others to meet their most basic needs.

• Most perpetrators are adult children or other family members and spouses/intimate partners.

• Types of abuse

    • Physical, sexual, emotional abuse
    • Financial exploitation
    • Neglect
    • Self-neglect
    • Abandonment

Common Elements in All Types of Abuse

• Minimization

    • The public thinks that violence and abuse are rare in our society

• Directionality

    • Violence occurs largely in one direction: men victimize women

• Trivialization

    • Violence against women is often viewed in a joking manner

• Blaming the Victim

    • Women are held responsible for the outcomes of violent or abusive episodes

Characteristics of Battered Women

• Personal Beliefs

    • Abused females hold onto beliefs that the man is the head of the household

• Personal Feelings

    • Adult female victims develop low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness

• Codependency

    • Many women feel an emotional dependency with the abuser and feel responsible for the abuse

• Perception of Partner

    • She feels she is the only one who can help him overcome the problem(s), therefore, feels compassion and pity

Consequences of Abuse

• Physical Consequences
• Physical abuse
• Emotional and Psychological Consequences
• Negative psychological distress
• Spiritual Consequences
• Core values are lost as well as the meaning of life
• Social Consequences
• Society suffers due to the increased workload of health services provided for the incidences of abuse
• Economic Impact of Intimate Partner Violence
• Exceeds $8.3 billion annually

Leaving the Abusive Relationship

• Once a woman has made the decision to leave the relationship, her most critical concern is developing a safety plan
• A Safety Plan includes:
• A means of leaving
• List of people to call
• Packed suitcase containing important papers and essentials
• Locating a safe place to stay e.g. women’s shelters
• Food
• Method of becoming self-sufficient financially e.g. federal or state agencies
How to Help
• Suggestions from Supporting the Survivor

    • Listen
    • Research
    • Reassure
    • Empower
    • Be Patient
    • Ask
    • Encourage

Moving Forward

• Building Resiliency
• Is the ability to recover, to overcome adversity, and bounce back
• Self-Caring
• Taking care of one’s own physical, emotional, and spiritual needs
• Meeting Needs
• Going beyond the survival needs to promote progression and growth

Preventing Abuse at the Personal Level

• Teaching women to be intolerant of any forms of abuse
• Educating children about healthy relationships
• Improving self-worth of women
• Creating awareness of the negative consequences of abusive relationships

Preventing Abuse at the Community Level

• Coordination of agencies and programs that can serve to reach families in the community
• Parenting classes, relationship building, and stress management courses
• Programs for men, taking responsibility for their actions and nurturing support of their partner
• Extended day programs for children/youth
• Increasing community awareness by speaking out on individual or victim’s rights

Preventing Abuse at the State and Federal Level

• Laws to protect the rights of women against violence and abuse
• Reporting of injuries perceived to be a result from violence or abuse
• Violence Against Women Act strengthens law enforcement strategies and promote safeguards
• The Trauma Act (2003) expands research on the psychological aftereffects of violence against women