Violence Against Women and Children

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Chapter 10

• Violence Against Women and Children

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Violence Against Women

• An International Problem
• In Kuwait male employers routinely rape their
  foreign maids
• In other countries, genital mutilation is routine
• In India and Pakistan, dowry deaths claim lives
  of thousands annually
• Horrible abuses of women during wartime
• Femicide murder of women

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• Defining Rape and Battering
• Rape forced sexual intercourse
• Sexual assault unwanted sexual contact not
  involving intercourse
• Battering or domestic physical attacks committed
  by intimates
• Intimate partner violence

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• The Extent of Rape and Battering
• NCVS reported over 200,000 rapes in 2002, 87
  committed against females
• NVAW survey found 18 of women raped at least
  once in their lifetime
• Intimates account for 10 of all rapes and sexual
  assaults
• Battering more common than rape

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• The Social Patterning of Rape and Battering
• Age young women more likely than older women
• Social Class poorest women higher rates
• Race and Ethnicity higher rates for black women
  20-24 than for whites
• Problem of underreporting
• Cultural traditions

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• Explaining Rape and Battering
• Are these crimes more psychological or
  sociological in origin?
• Gender and Economic Inequality
• Inevitable consequences of patriarchy or male
  dominance
• Gender-based analysis of violence against women
  is necessary

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• Anthropological evidence supports this view
• Research reveals states with greater gender
  inequality had higher rape rates
• Women are scapegoats for anger some men feel over
  low SES

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• Cultural Myths Supporting Rape and Battering
• Rape Myths
• Women liked to be raped
• Women ask for it
• Many believe real rape hasnt occurred unless the
  following has happened
• Injury or other evidence of force
• Woman has not been sexually active
• Woman didnt dress provocatively

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• Battering Myths
• Must have angered their partner
• Battering not that bad because they dont leave
• Reality
• Often nowhere to go
• Fear will track them down
• They continue to love their batterers

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• Battered Men Fact or Fiction?
• Men are just as battered by women
• Research by Straus argues women often initiate
  violence, not just use it in self-defense
• Sexual symmetry
• NCVS disputes sexual symmetry claim citing 85 of
  intimate violence committed against women

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• Stalking
• Definition persistent following, observing,
  and/or harassment of an individual
• Common goal to intimidate woman into staying in a
  romantic relationship
• Can produce severe stress and psychological
  trauma
• Estimated 30-40 of victims eventually attacked

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• Reducing Violence Against Women
• Must first reduce male dominance
• Efforts to reduce poverty
• Must change the way boys are raised
• Rape crisis centers and womens shelters
• Criminal justice system must change
• Rape shield laws

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• Arresting Batterers Deterrence or Escalation?
• Some research shows arrest produces lower
  recidivism rates for batterers
• Replicate research indicated arrests increased
  battering in some cities, while lowering it in
  others
• Criticisms of mandatory arrest policies
• Trigger child custody actions
• Put women in more danger
• Deprives victims of decision to arrest

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Violence Against Children Physical and Sexual
Abuse

• Defining Child Physical and Sexual Abuse
• Physical abuse excessive and unjustified use of
  physical force against a child
• Sexual abuse any physical contact or interaction
  of a sexual nature between a child and an adult

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• The Extent of Physical and Sexual Abuse
• Never get a true picture of physical abuse
  because children unlikely to report the abuse
• HHS data reveal almost 900,000 cases of child
  maltreatment for 2002, of which 167,000 physical
  abuse

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• Data on sexual abuse even more unreliable
• Sexual abuse often goes undetected because does
  not leave physical signs like physical abuse does
• HHS estimated 89,000 cases of sexual abuse
  occurred in 2002
• Research shows about 25 of girls abused at least
  once, compared to 10 of boys

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• The Patterning of Physical and Sexual Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Early research indicated mothers more likely than
  fathers to commit
• Recently father commit more than originally
  thought
• Boys more likely to suffer serious injuries

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• Physical Abuse
• African-American children more likely to suffer
  serious injuries or death than white children
  (findings must be interpreted with caution)
• Infants and toddlers more likely than older
  children to suffer abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Men that sexually abuse children are relatively
  poor
• Does not vary by race
• Girls more likely than boys

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• Explaining Child Abuse
• Inequality children are powerless
• More common among poorer families than wealthier
  ones
• Stress
• Were parents physically abuse themselves?
• Role of spanking

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• Consequences of Child Abuse
• Difficulties in peer relations
• Lower self-control
• Loss of trust
• Lower self-esteem
• Aggressive tendencies
• Depression
• Substance abuse

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• Reducing Child Abuse
• Public policy efforts
• Addressing poverty
• Implement prevention programs