Sociology 1201 Domestic violence Dfn: Violence between family members or between men and women in intimate relationships Dfn: Violence between family members or between men and women in intimate relationships How common? My neighborhood How common? My neighborhood How many of you know someone who has been physically assaulted by someone in their family or someone who they have been dating? How many of you know someone who has been physically assaulted by someone in their family or someone who they have been dating?

Sociology 1201 Special characteristics of families as a locus of violence Privacy Privacy Power differentials Power differentials Patriarchy Patriarchy Parents vs. children Parents vs. children Strength Strength Issues of definition: what constitutes violence? the role of intimidation Issues of definition: what constitutes violence? the role of intimidation

Sociology 1201 National Violence Against Women Survey (NIJ, CDC) N=8000 % of women who reported having been physically assaulted by an intimate partner: 22% % of women who reported having been physically assaulted by an intimate partner: 22% Beat up: 9% Beat up: 9% Choked, tried to drown: 6% Choked, tried to drown: 6% Kicked, bit: 6% Kicked, bit: 6% Hit with object: 5% Hit with object: 5% Threatened with gun: 4% Threatened with gun: 4% Stalked: 5% Stalked: 5% Raped: 8% Raped: 8%

Sociology 1201 Related issues of prevalence Are there abused men? In comparable survey, 8% of men reported physical assaults. Are there abused men? In comparable survey, 8% of men reported physical assaults. Domestic violence does take place within gay and lesbian relationships, and is higher for men. Domestic violence does take place within gay and lesbian relationships, and is higher for men. About ¼ of the kids in Unexpected Legacy had witnessed violence by fathers against mothers About ¼ of the kids in Unexpected Legacy had witnessed violence by fathers against mothers

Sociology 1201 Why do victims stay? Battered self-esteem and isolation Battered self-esteem and isolation Intimidation/fear of more violence Intimidation/fear of more violence Lack of resources Lack of resources Role of police/prosecutors/family/community Role of police/prosecutors/family/community Religious misinterpretations Religious misinterpretations

Sociology 1201 How did battering emerge as a social problem? Battered women’s movement, beginning in England in the early 1970s: Scream Softly… Battered women’s movement, beginning in England in the early 1970s: Scream Softly… In the U.S., early priority of NOW In the U.S., early priority of NOW First four shelters, including the one in Duluth, funded by legislature in 1977 First four shelters, including the one in Duluth, funded by legislature in 1977 Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, beginning in early 1980 Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, beginning in early 1980 Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project

Sociology 1201 “The Duluth Model” Cooperation among criminal justice, social welfare, and advocacy organizations Cooperation among criminal justice, social welfare, and advocacy organizations Arrest policy Arrest policy 24 weeks of group counseling mandated for abusers as a condition of probation 24 weeks of group counseling mandated for abusers as a condition of probation Violence is recognized as a means of power and control Violence is recognized as a means of power and control

Sociology 1201 Basic principles(selected) The first priority of intervention should be to carry out policies and protocols which protect the victim from further harm and whenever possible, the burden of holding abusers accountable should rest with the community, not the victim. The first priority of intervention should be to carry out policies and protocols which protect the victim from further harm and whenever possible, the burden of holding abusers accountable should rest with the community, not the victim. The primary focus of intervention is on stopping the assailant's use of violence, not on fixing or ending the relationship. The primary focus of intervention is on stopping the assailant's use of violence, not on fixing or ending the relationship. In general, the court avoids prescribing a course of action for the victim, e.g., does not force a victim to testify by threatening jail, nor mandate treatment for the victim. In general, the court avoids prescribing a course of action for the victim, e.g., does not force a victim to testify by threatening jail, nor mandate treatment for the victim. Policies and procedures should act as a general deterrent to battering in the community. Policies and procedures should act as a general deterrent to battering in the community. All interventions must account for the power imbalance between the assailant and the victim. All interventions must account for the power imbalance between the assailant and the victim.

Sociology 1201

Violence against children First publicized in the U.S. as the result of an article by pediatric radiologists in JAMA in 1962: “The Battered Child Syndrome” First publicized in the U.S. as the result of an article by pediatric radiologists in JAMA in 1962: “The Battered Child Syndrome” Much more difficult to measure than battering of adults Much more difficult to measure than battering of adults 2001: 3 million reports of child abuse or neglect to state or local welfare agencies 2001: 3 million reports of child abuse or neglect to state or local welfare agencies

Sociology 1201 Control agencies Laws requiring reporting of suspected abuse by teachers and medical personnel Laws requiring reporting of suspected abuse by teachers and medical personnel Family court Family court Social welfare agencies Social welfare agencies Minnesota Department of Human Services Minnesota Department of Human Services Minnesota Department of Human Services Minnesota Department of Human Services Video: “Failure to Protect” Video: “Failure to Protect” Duluth News Tribune, Sept 19, 2005: “Reforming the System” Duluth News Tribune, Sept 19, 2005: “Reforming the System”

Sociology 1201 Causes Social organization of the family: intensity and isolation Social organization of the family: intensity and isolation Lack of knowledge about child dvlp Lack of knowledge about child dvlp Adult caregivers who were themselves abused as children Adult caregivers who were themselves abused as children Inequality Inequality Power and control again Power and control again Cultural beliefs about punishment? Cultural beliefs about punishment?

Sociology 1201 Consequences An estimated 30% of those who are abused become abusers, compared with 5% of the general population An estimated 30% of those who are abused become abusers, compared with 5% of the general population Chesney-Lind, Wisconsin study: 79% of the girls in the juvenile justice system had been abused, physically or sexually Chesney-Lind, Wisconsin study: 79% of the girls in the juvenile justice system had been abused, physically or sexually

Sociology 1201 Solutions Parenting education Parenting education “Visiting nurse” programs (Elmira) “Visiting nurse” programs (Elmira) Parents Anonymous and the like Parents Anonymous and the like Removal of children by Child Protective Services Removal of children by Child Protective Services Legal changes to more quickly terminate parental rights Legal changes to more quickly terminate parental rights High quality childcare for mothers that are poor, young, single High quality childcare for mothers that are poor, young, single Less poverty and racial injustice Less poverty and racial injustice