“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Deviance 10e Chapter Six: FAMILY VIOLENCE This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Alex Thio

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Introduction Everyday, thousands of women in the U.S., along with children and older persons are targets of family violence Everyday, thousands of women in the U.S., along with children and older persons are targets of family violence The family is one of the most violent social institutions The family is one of the most violent social institutions

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Myths About Family Violence Myth: family violence affects only the poor Myth: family violence affects only the poor Myth: violence and love are so opposite that they cannot exist together Myth: violence and love are so opposite that they cannot exist together Myth: being abused as a child is associated with being a child abuser later in life Myth: being abused as a child is associated with being a child abuser later in life Myth: drugs and alcohol cause family violence Myth: drugs and alcohol cause family violence

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 The Extent of Family Violence Using a narrow definition (includes only physical and sexual violence causing injury) each year: Using a narrow definition (includes only physical and sexual violence causing injury) each year: 14% of wives experience marital rape 14% of wives experience marital rape 3% of wives experience beatings 3% of wives experience beatings 6% of children experience child abuse 6% of children experience child abuse 2% of the elderly are abused 2% of the elderly are abused

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Marital Rape Marital rape: raping of a woman by her husband Marital rape: raping of a woman by her husband most prevalent form of forced sex most prevalent form of forced sex 14% of wives 14% of wives most involve the use of physical force most involve the use of physical force forced anal intercourse occurs more often than vaginal rapes forced anal intercourse occurs more often than vaginal rapes

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Marital Rape – cont. Three causes: Three causes: 1. sexist belief that husbands are entitled to have sex with their wives 2. husbands’ attempts to punish wives 3. husbands’ attempts to use rape as a form of control over wives

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Wife Beating Spouse assault involve 1/3 of all couples every year Spouse assault involve 1/3 of all couples every year Abusive husbands act as if they have license to batter their wives Abusive husbands act as if they have license to batter their wives Often results in post traumatic stress and “battered woman syndrome” Often results in post traumatic stress and “battered woman syndrome” The overwhelming majority of abused women DO leave abusive relationships The overwhelming majority of abused women DO leave abusive relationships Feminist theorists: blame patriarchal society Feminist theorists: blame patriarchal society

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Child Abuse Victimizes millions of children a year Victimizes millions of children a year 20% of women report having suffered sexual abuse from family members during childhood and adolescence 20% of women report having suffered sexual abuse from family members during childhood and adolescence Daughters are the most likely victims Daughters are the most likely victims Fathers and stepfathers are the most likely offenders Fathers and stepfathers are the most likely offenders

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Child Abuse – cont. Victims are prone to poor academic performance, delinquency, and involvement in drugs and crime Victims are prone to poor academic performance, delinquency, and involvement in drugs and crime Causes: Causes: 30% of abusers were abused as children 30% of abusers were abused as children society’s acceptance of physical violence as an appropriate method to discipline children society’s acceptance of physical violence as an appropriate method to discipline children poverty, unemployment, and lack of education poverty, unemployment, and lack of education

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Global Perspective: Female Genital Mutilation Female circumcision can take 4 forms Female circumcision can take 4 forms Westerners have expressed outrage about its cruelty and the violation of the rights of women Westerners have expressed outrage about its cruelty and the violation of the rights of women Reasons: Reasons: patriarchy patriarchy cultural beliefs/cosmetic surgery cultural beliefs/cosmetic surgery value of virginity; circumcision seen as proof value of virginity; circumcision seen as proof social and psychological benefits to the participant social and psychological benefits to the participant

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Elder Abuse 25% of the elderly require long term care and some are abused by caretakers 25% of the elderly require long term care and some are abused by caretakers The elderly who live with over-stressed relatives are the most likely to be abused The elderly who live with over-stressed relatives are the most likely to be abused Neglect, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation are most common abuse Neglect, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation are most common abuse

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 A Social Profile of Family Abusers Abusers more likely to be Abusers more likely to be young young of lower-income of lower-income experiencing a stressful home life experiencing a stressful home life socially isolated from others in the community socially isolated from others in the community Except for more serious violence and incest, women are slightly more likely than men to victimize children, due to greater responsibility for child care Except for more serious violence and incest, women are slightly more likely than men to victimize children, due to greater responsibility for child care Stressful home life and social isolation also increase the likelihood of family violence Stressful home life and social isolation also increase the likelihood of family violence

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 A Global Perspective on Family Violence Family violence takes place in every society Family violence takes place in every society Family Violence occurs more often in developing countries Family Violence occurs more often in developing countries

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Theories of Family Violence Social learning theory: people are likely to engage in family violence if they have been exposed to violence in one way or another, and learn that violence is an appropriate way to deal with interpersonal problems Social learning theory: people are likely to engage in family violence if they have been exposed to violence in one way or another, and learn that violence is an appropriate way to deal with interpersonal problems Stress theory: some people who experience stress will turn to violence Stress theory: some people who experience stress will turn to violence Exchange theory: persons are likely to commit violence if the benefit of it is greater than the cost of punishment Exchange theory: persons are likely to commit violence if the benefit of it is greater than the cost of punishment

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Social Responses to Family Violence Sacredness of the family leads to the lenient treatment of family violence Sacredness of the family leads to the lenient treatment of family violence Laws against marital rape and battery; shelters and safe houses to protect the victims; counseling programs Laws against marital rape and battery; shelters and safe houses to protect the victims; counseling programs Doctors and other professionals are required to report child abuse to a government child protective service agency Doctors and other professionals are required to report child abuse to a government child protective service agency No formal government protective service agencies exist for the elderly, but most states have mandatory reporting laws No formal government protective service agencies exist for the elderly, but most states have mandatory reporting laws