Domestic Violence on Women - Essay Example

? Literature Review: Domestic Violence on Women Introduction Domestic violence against women is not a new phenomenon. It is prevalent almost every community and society. For many cultures, domestic violence against women is a routine practice and has become a part of them. The United Nations clearly defines violence towards females as any action of gender related abuse that brings sexual, physical, psychological suffering experienced by women. Unfortunately, the UK is not exception to that. Some statistical reports highlight that forty five percent of women have experienced domestic violence. Some experts contend that culture and cultural practices do not work against gender based discrimination or subjugation but they totally directly or indirectly support such practices. Some contend this notion that home based violence negatively influences everyone is equivalent not only to a mere superficial endeavour with an aim of including distinct approaches but also a clear manifestation representing a complex approach. In the following part of this literature review part, firstly, violence against women has been defined and UK-based incidents of violence have also been mentioned. Secondly, a critical analysis of theories pertaining to women battering along with evaluation of traditional definitions of woman battering has been described. Thirdly, a critical analysis of gender inequality primacy has also been accounted for. Before summary part, gaps and suggestions have been included after the part consisting of tensions between culture and gender. Definition The UN defines “Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering or harm to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, arbitrary, deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in the public or in private life” (United Nations, 1993). For example, forty five percent of women have experienced some or other forms of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault only in the United Kingdom (Walby, 2004). Walby (2004) further highlights that around eighty thousands females are being raped every year alone only in United Kingdom. In addition to that, some 21 % of girls face some form of child molestation in the United Kingdom (HM Government, 2007). Although broad in its scope and application, this definition demystifies violence as acts causing or having potential to cause harm or suffering and considerably stipulates that such acts of violence are deeply rooted in sex inequality. Theories and Perspectives: inquiring into globalized female violence A conventional view to home based violence has emphasised on general incidents revealing victim females in support of forgoing consistent feminist movement for eliminating violence on females (Sokoloff and Dupont, 2005). But, the current strategy has considerably been criticized by the subject experts who comprehend and acknowledge necessity emphasizing and extending strong support to female victims subjugated by the white community (Russo, 2002). In this regard, Kanuha (1996) has questioned the implementation of generalizations pertaining to females. A notion elaborating that events of domestic violence directly or indirectly put their impact over every person, across the communities is tantamount to a mere superficial endeavour with an aim of including a wide ranging aspects but also a clear evidence of sloppy theory building and research as well. Kanuha (1996) further continues and says that the perception representing home based violence influence almost all members of society minimizes together with way we contemplate wide spread presence of violence against the victims and the dimensions underlying a wide range of incidents pertaining to female exploitation and violence. However, Richie (2000) disagrees with the perception of global risk and contends that females of colour remain mostly possibly be in perilous social position including conditions and in intimate relationships. Moreover, antiviolence movement’s avoidance of race and class based interpretation of abuse and threat at battered females considerably compromises transformative-cum- transgressive possibility of the anti-violence movement’s potential to extremely criticize numerous manifestations representing non-economic and economic dominations (Richie 2000). Evaluating conventional descriptions of female battering Substantially, the scholars on domestic violence remain highly sceptical to agree with the traditional methods of measuring and defining domestic violence (Kanuha, 1996). Yoshihama (1999) contends events representing home based abuse domestic violence may not sufficiently be calculated without taking into account reality that diverse forms of cultures separately and differently elaborate home based abuse. Alternative methods determining and computing the events of home based abuse must be there (Yoshihama, 1999). The author further extends his view point by suggesting that the widespread prevalence of pitfalls to fundamental methods to home based abuse and violence mainly caused by the lack of sufficient socio-cultural contexts. Females representing African American community’s thoughts and ideas pertaining to domestic violence might provide a separate but different view to mainstream definitions in the manner numerous manifestations of domestic abuse events are faced (Garfield, 2001). The results authenticate that existing home based violence definition is not adequate but insufficient if is unable to encompass particular types of violence specific to females’ cultural backgrounds (Yoshihama, 1999). Critically highlighting the significance of inequality in gender descriptions of female violence Yllo (1993) cited in Sokoloff and Dupont, (2005) contends that conventional women perspectives contend that domestic abuse against females represent a result of socially evolved and culturally supported the issues of gender inequality and gender subjugation. The position looks considerably better than previous approaches to women violence often held responsible the victim for her own created issues. However, activists, scholars and especially females representing colour including lesbians find it difficult to agree with but they challenge the conventional feminist approach that in-equality in gender remains fundamental and main component causing home based abuse and violence. In this regard, it has been highlighted that home based violence does not remain only monolithic phenomenon including inter-sectionalities of colour the nature and meaning of domestic violence; how social and personal consequences are produced and whether safety including escape can be possible (Bograd, 1999). This inter-sectionality of class, race and gender has practical ramifications for many battered women seeking safety. Bui and Morash (1999) extend their comprehension about the issue by quoting an example about Vietnamese women who have been nourished with the perception that family unity and saving face prevent individual safety and they will be unwilling to receive external assistance to protect oneself from the effects of home based violence. Being a part of a less dignified race, a considerable number of females of colour may worry that obtaining the police help will subject their mates to racist punishment through the criminal justice system along with labelling them as racist Blacks (Websdale, 1999). In addition to that, Ristock, (2002) provides that Lesbians may use silence pertaining to physical or psychological violence present in their lives. The substantial drawback to conventional women approaches of home based abuse is provided by approaches pertaining to home based violence in lesbians (Leventhal and Lundy 1999; Renzetti, 1998). However, reality is that both victim and abuser remain not men but females calls into query about significance of inequality in gender by describing issues within violence inside lesbian life structure (Sokoloff and DuPont, 2005). Rift existing between gender and culture: attaching blame of home based violence incidents with other cultures Culture and gender issues are considerably interrelated. the multiplicity representation of distinct females’ lived personal experiences with cultural varied dimensions, the unavoidable possibility of terminating segment notions such as race, class and also gender (Mann, 2000) and of undermining a very important contribution representing sexism, heterosexism, and social class manifestations of structural discriminations incurred and faced by the females victims. In this regard, Mann and Grimes (2001) opine that it is understandable that significant activity of strengthening or extending voice to oppressed-cum- marginalized females must avoid blurring a reality that class, gender, race and social unevenness have become systems of cruelty that remain somehow bigger and stronger than the individuals producing or supporting their cause; and they have become an integral part to comprehending the events of domestic violence cross the diverse and distinct types of local communities. However, it has been contended that cultural differences should avoid eliminating the necessity for taking into account the issues existing in structural power. In a nutshell, although culture is highly paramount to highlighting and combating the incidents of domestic violence, however it would be naive to depend on simplistic perceptions of cultural traditions (Collins, 1998). Many domestic violence critics and experts are working with the involvement that culture may offer help for conducting home based violence including how to discuss the interconnectivity existing between both of the approaches. In this regard, there will be finger pointing at an immigrant’s culture when contemplating the issue of domestic violence (Dasgupta, 1998). The objective is to avoid entertaining simplistic analysis of the contribution and significance of culture in the incidents of domestic violence. Although the traditions in the culture may be employed with an aim of justifying the acts of violence against females; there remains an unavoidable threat to highlighting involvement of culture in the incidents of home based violence as a fundamentally non-positive but destructive action (Sokoloff and Dupont, 2005). Moreover, the reality denoting traditional beliefs, traditions may work as defending components in order to support the cause of victim females (Dasgupta and Warrier, 1996; Kaufman Kantor et al. 1994), it remains generally disregarded or not appropriately employed. When oppression and violence take place in non-local populations; in this regard, culture is generally blamed for extending an influential contribution. Particular events are often un-conceptualized as representing behaviours of individuals; however, all sections are alleged and considered to be representing stereotype thinking and behaviour (Pratt and Sokoloff, 2005). In this regard, behaviour of diminished segments remains considerably contemplated due to culturally attached than that of influential and strong traditions of culture (Volpp, 2005, cited in Sokoloff and Dupont, 2005). Domestic violence scholars prefer attempting to secure a reasonable balance and equality between the structures highlighting that the cultural norms should not be confused with patriarchy, and the role of culture. Instead, more focus and emphasis be extended to evaluate how patriarchy works distinctively in wide range of diverse cultures in the world (Almeida and Dolan-Delvecchio, 1999; Baker et al., 1999). Summary United Nations defines violence against women any act inflicting sexual, physical or psychological suffering on women. Only in the United Kingdom, forty five percent of women have suffered domestic violence. Various experts on domestic violence do not agree violence measurement standards and methods including definition of domestic violence. They contend that domestic violence cannot be appropriately measured without contemplating the presence of diverse cultures who separately define violence. The traditional feminist perspectives argue that domestic violence is largely contributed by socially constructed and culturally approved gender inequality. There cannot be uniform understanding of domestic violence as diverse cultures exist and separately define domestic violence. Conclusions It is highly crucial to contemplate how diverse members and communities’ traditional manifestations and incidents pertaining to violence cross the activity of meditation with the application of structural methods of tyrant acts including economic exploitation, hetero-sexism, racism and so other relevant acts. There cannot be uniform understanding of domestic violence. This notion can be authenticated by the fact that the communities living in different parts of world do not have much cultural resemblance but they offer markedly different customs and traditions which are at some time become unfriendly for one community and the other is wholeheartedly practicing it. 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