Domestic Violence + Feminism PDF

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Sociological notes on Domestic violence and the different types of feminism...

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Domestic Violence

Domestic violence occurs across society regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth or where you live. Domestic violence is a wide range of abuse from physical and sexual abuse to emotional and financial abuse e.g. the victim is controlled in some aspect of their lives through fear of violence, physical or verbal, or they may be deprived of food, sleep or money. Victims of domestic violence suffer on many levels and some lose the freedom to live their lives how they want without fear. Dobash and Dobash (1979) interviewed female victims of domestic violence. Dobash and Dobash found that violent incidents could be set off by what a husband saw as a challenge to his authority such as his wife asking why he was late home for a meal. The women interviewed had left their abusive partners and had gone to a refuge. Dobash and Dobash argue that marriage legitimates violence against women by granting power and authority on husbands and dependency on wives. The findings from this research are that women do not report most incidents out of fear. Radical feminists interpret findings such as those from Dobash and Dobash as evidence of society being patriarchal and will only stop when women become more equal. Some men are victims of domestic violence from their wives, but these men are more unwilling to report attacks than women because of embarrassment and fear their reports will not be taken seriously. Radical feminists argue that domestic violence is part of a patriarchal system within society that maintains men’s power; this is a sociological explanation of domestic violence rather than a psychological explanation by linking patterns of domestic violence to social norms about marriage. Violence against women is only part of the problem. It is sometimes the woman who is violent towards her man. This is known as the hidden side of domestic violence. For a man to be on the receiving end of abuse is often seen as him being weak, and sadly this adds to the reluctance men have to come forward and speak about it. But it happens all the same. The humiliation which accompanies abuse makes it just as hard for men to break free and seek help. Another pattern found is in comparison to other types of assault those subjected to domestic violence, and women in particular, are more likely to be upset and frightened by the incident, both in the shorter and longer term.

Feminism

Definition: The advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. Key Point - Sociologists argue that gender is socially constructed. Social construction means ‘man made’. For example society creates gender. SEX’ is biologically determined.

Radical Feminism Radical ffeminist eminist theory posits that society is a patriarchy, where all men benefit from the subjugation of all women. Men benefit from the systematic oppression of women in all areas of life, both within the public and personal sphere. Some claim that patriarchy theory has been able to cut across the independent categories and boundaries of other forms of oppression such as race, but as is well documented this is contested. Radical feminism is a philosophy emphasizing the patriarchal roots of inequality between men and women, or, more specifically, social dominance of women by men. Radical feminism views patriarchy as dividing rights, privileges and power primarily by sex, and as a result oppressing women and privileging men. Radical feminism opposes existing political and social organization in general because it is inherently tied to patriarchy. Radical feminism is credited with the use of consciousness raising groups to raise awareness of women's oppression. Radical feminism was rooted in the wider radical movement, where women participated in anti-war and New Left political movements of the 1960s, finding them excluded from equal power by the men within the movement, even with underlying theories of empowerment. Many of these women split off into specifically feminist groups, while still retaining much of their political radical ideals and methods. Then radical feminism became the term used for the more radical edge of feminism. Key issues for radical feminists include: -Reproductive rights for women, including freedom to make choices to give birth, have an abortion, use birth control or get sterilized. -Evaluating and then breaking down traditional gender roles in private relationships as well as in public policies.

-Understanding pornography as an industry and practice leading to harm to women, although some radical feminists disagreed with this position. -Understanding rape as an expression of patriarchal power, not a seeking of sex. -Understanding prostitution under patriarchy as oppression of women, sexually and economically. -A critique of motherhood, marriage, the nuclear family and sexuality, questioning how much of our culture is based on patriarchal assumptions. -A critique of other institutions including government and religion as centred historically in patriarchal power. Tools used by radical women's groups included consciousness-raising groups, actively providing services, organizing public protests, and putting on art and culture events. Women's Studies programs at universities were often supported by radical feminists as well as more liberal and socialist feminists.

Marxist Feminism Marxist feminists believe that class accounts for the role, position and oppression of women under capital. Marxist feminism doesn’t claim that the oppression of women is due to the intentional actions of individuals, but results from political, social and economic structures associated with capitalism. But as with any other Marxist tendency it should be noted that although Marxist feminism seeks to explain oppression under capital, it does so also within the framework of historical materialism and takes account of oppression under previous modes of production where private property and class have structured society. This creates a system in which women's labour is separated from men's labour, and is considered to be less valuable because it does not earn monetary compensation. Supporters of this theory believe that because women's labour is devalued, women as a group are devalued and oppressed. In order to overcome this system of economic oppression, Marxist feminists support a radical reconstruction of the capitalist economy. There are several arguments against this theory of feminism. Opponents point out that many societies were structured around the idea of men as the supreme authorities long before capitalism came into the picture, so it seems wrong to cite capitalism as a cause of this societal structure. It is also difficult for this feminist theory to explain female oppression in countries that do not operate under a capitalist economic system.

Black Feminism The term Black feminism was not widely used until the inception of the contemporary Black women's movement in the 1970s. However, Black feminist scholars frequently apply it to a variety of Black women's survival strategies and actions in the past. It is used to characterize Black women's tradition of courage, independence, and pragmatism under the brutal conditions of slavery and

institutionalized racism. Black women's widespread employment outside of the home has sometimes been cited as evidence of their feminist goals, although economic necessity has been a more likely motive. Black women's activism, which has focused upon a range of issues, has been described as feminist, especially when it has occurred in all-female groupings. Black feminism has of course been used to define political theory and practice that explicitly addresses gender and sexual oppression in Black women's lives. Liberal Feminism Liberal feminism is an individualistic form of feminist theory, which focuses on women’s ability to maintain their equality through their own actions and choices. Because as we all know the liberal state is one that seeks to uphold the “natural law” or equality between citizens, whilst the market mediates between competitive individuals in pursuit of their own self-interest. What she described as liberal feminism is theory and work that focuses more on issues like equality in the workplace, in education, in political rights. Where liberal feminism looks at issues in the private sphere, it tends to be in terms of equality: how does that private life impede or enhance public equality. Thus, liberal feminists also tend to support marriage as an equal partnership, and more male involvement in child care. Abortion and other reproductive rights have to do with control of one's life choices and autonomy. Ending domestic violence and sexual harassment have to do with removing obstacles to women achieving on an equal level with men. Liberal feminism's primary goal is gender equality in the public sphere -- equal access to education, equal pay, ending job sex segregation, better working conditions won primarily through legal changes. Private sphere issues are of concern mainly as they influence or impede equality in the public sphere....