Domestic violence

The fundamentals of domestic violence and practical issues are covered in this post for the benefit of the readers.

Content

Introduction
Family-based violence
Power and control wheel
Cycle of violence
Impact of domestic violence
Social-Ecological model- Prevention of domestic violence
Basic principles of feminist social casework
Summary

Introduction

One of the most frequent types of violence against women, domestic abuse (also known as DV) is also the most invisible and generally accepted in society. Until recently, domestic abuse was not recognised as a crime. In certain nations, domestic violence is still not recognised as a type of violence by the legal system. The sanctity of marriage and the family must remain intact, which is one of the key justifications for not classifying domestic abuse as a crime. For instance, Russia recently passed a law known as the "slapping law" that takes a step toward decriminalising some forms of domestic violence. The current rules aimed at protecting women from abuse, according to the bill's backers, are hostile to the family. According to one of the bill's writers, it applies to violent acts that result in injuries but don't necessitate hospitalisation or leave of absence from work for the victim, the BBC1 says. ” Despite how domestic violence affects an individual,

It is still debatable on both an individual and cultural level. Because not all instances of family-based or domestic violence are reported and hence counted, its scope is difficult to gauge. According to the World Health Organization, the percentage of women who had ever been subjected to physical, sexual, or both types of abuse by a close partner ranged from 15% to 71%, with the majority falling between 29% and 62%.

The women's movement has struggled to raise awareness of domestic violence and its consequences. The catchphrase "personal is political" was created during the second wave of feminism to emphasise the crucial link between a person's individual experiences and more general societal institutions. During this period, the women's movement concentrated on the private, a zone free from outside interference, and sought to change its meaning by connecting it to the political.

It is crucial that victims of domestic violence receive appropriate responses and interventions due to the magnitude of the problem and the fact that families are the primary setting for violence. Building the abilities needed to deal with domestic abuse instances will be made easier with the help of this chapter.

Family based violence

The smallest and most essential unit of society is the family. As people are first socialised to acquire and accept heteronormative and gendered duties and behaviours in the family, it is also where patriarchy is learned and maintained. As was previously noted, patriarchy punishes those who stray from its prescribed duties and behaviour, and because families are where people learn and play these roles as well as strive to break free of the gendered norms, they are also frequently a scene of violence.

Because of the idea of "honour," domestic and natal violence are also frequent. Honor plays a significant part in the continuation of violence, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. According to this belief, women in the home possess the honour/izzat, hence any disobedience on the part of women to the socially imposed roles results in violence. Family-based violence includes, for example:

Domestic violence
Honour’ crimes & killings –community as natal family/acting in place of family as moral police where ‘family’ fails
Sexual harassment at workplace & in public spaces –encouraged by families & communities through silence
Child labour and trafficking
Desertion/destitution/abandonment –especially of elderly & physically ‘unfit’ men & women who are unable to play designated ‘functional roles’
Forced marriage (including child marriage)
Dowry and bride-price, and harassment based on the same
Ostracisation of widows
Child Sexual Abuse & Sexual abuse of incestual nature based on age-hierarchy
Sex-selective abortion of female foetuses and son-preference

Power and control wheel

The Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, Duluth, devised the wheel of power and control, which aids in comprehending intimate partner abuse. Power and control, which are at the heart of any abusive relationship, are at the centre of the wheel. It's critical to realise that abuse does not occur because the abuser is impaired by drink or drugs. Abuse is an intentional behaviour used to control control over someone who is weaker or less powerful than the abuser. Power and control are, therefore, at the core of all abuse.

Physical and sexual abuse are in the periphery of the wheel because the abusive relationship is kept in place by threats of these crimes. The decision-making of the survivors is governed by the dread that results from the threat.

The wheel lists the ways to exercise power and control. The abuser exercises power and control by using coercion and threats, intimidation, children, emotional abuse, isolation, economic abuse, masculine privilege, and minimising, denying, and blaming.

Cycle of violence

Domestic or intimate partner violence develops gradually rather than continuously. The three phases of abuse are shown on the wheel along with the abuse pattern.

The three stages of the cycle of violence are;

Stage 1: As tension mounts, the abuser frequently begins to nitpick, may begin to use alcohol or drugs, and exhibits moodiness. The abuser could also make it difficult for the survivors to move. In these situations, the victim may comply with the abuser's demands, make every effort to satisfy him, and watch her words and behaviour in case she accidentally incites violence.

Stage 2: Despite the efforts of the survivors, the subsequent acute explosion stage is unavoidable. The abuser continues to utilise physical and sexual violence throughout this time, and the victim shifts into survival mode while attempting to protect her family.

Stage 3: The honeymoon period, which comes right after a violent episode. The abuser displays a lot of love and expresses regret for his behaviour at this stage. He even pledges to make changes and get support. During this period, the victim is hopeful and believes that the abuser will change.

Impact of domestic violence

Individual level

It is beyond dispute that domestic abuse has an impact on the victim. DV affects a woman's physical and mental well-being, including her finances. It can also cause migraines, bruises, loss of hearing or sight, and problems with her reproductive system (depeleating savings because of demand for dowry or paying towards household expenses). Violence has a number of long-lasting, invisible effects. For instance, several forced abortions may result in problems with reproductive health.

Family level

Domestic abuse has a well-documented effect on the family. Children are one of the most severely affected by domestic abuse. Children who have witnessed domestic abuse are more likely to experience behavioural issues, according to research. In their adult years, they are also more likely to experience emotional problems such post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders. When children see marital violence, the likelihood of intergenerational violence is also increased. Young boys may believe that their obligations as husbands entail abusing their wives, whilst young girls who witness domestic violence may internalise it and feel that they too must deal with violence from their hubsnads when they are married. This learned behaviour helps to keep violence going.

Societal level

Domestic violence has impacts on the development of a country in addition to its effects on families. "In terms of law enforcement, healthcare, lost labour, and general development, batterers cost nations a great deal of money. These expenses don't just harm the current generation; an assault on one individual has a ripple effect throughout the family and community for years to come.

Social-Ecological model- Prevention of domestic violence

The social-ecological model is one of the approaches that is frequently used to avoid domestic violence. The model takes into account the effects of domestic abuse and aids in the creation of domestic violence prevention methods.

The four levels of domestic violence prevention are:

individual level: Personal history and biological characteristics have an impact on behaviour and raise the risk of being a victim or an aggressor of violence at the individual level. Among them are having suffered abuse as a child, psychological or personality disorders, alcohol or drug misuse, a history of aggressive behaviour, and psychological or personality issues.
Relationships: Relationships with family, close friends, intimate partners, and peers may have an impact on the likelihood of being a victim or an offender of violence. For instance, having violent friends may impact whether a young person uses violence or suffers violence.
Community: Violence is also influenced by the social surroundings of the community, such as workplaces, neighbourhoods, and schools. The degree of unemployment, population density, mobility, and the presence of a local drug or arms trade are all potential risk factors in this situation.
Societal: societal variables have an impact on whether violence is promoted or discouraged. These include the availability of weapons, social and cultural norms such as those surrounding male dominance over women, parental dominance over children, and cultural norms that support the use of violence as a legitimate means of resolving disputes. Economic and social policies that maintain socioeconomic disparities between individuals are also included.

Basic principles of feminist social casework

The victimised woman should first be acknowledged as an individual, a person with rights and ideas, rather than solely in terms of the expectations placed on her and the societal duties she plays, as was previously discussed. As a result, the process is called individualization.
It is crucial that we welcome the individual unconditionally in whatever state or form they arrive to us in. Although we shouldn't force our own preconceptions and standards on her, we should keep in mind that acceptance is the cornerstone of casework practise.
Although there will be some emotional involvement, the caseworker or social worker must make sure that this involvement is controlled and that the social worker is involved enough to understand the client while maintaining objectivity.
In order to avoid viewing the client through the lens of our own biases and preconceptions, non-judgment is essential. We must respect the client's interpretation of her circumstances and refrain from imposing our own
Feminist social casework is incredibly important at respecting the woman's right to self-determination.
Our role is not to make decisions for women; rather, it is to present her with her options and support her choice without interfering with it.
Client involvement is crucial because the client must take initiative and pursue goals that the social worker assists her with identifying.
Since the client-counselor connection is based primarily on trust and the counselling setting is one of the few places where the woman is given unconditional support and is free to express herself fully, confidentiality is a major concern. In order to keep the counselling office a secure environment for the client, it is crucial to protect the woman's privacy.

Summary

Because it is viewed as a private matter, domestic violence is a complicated social issue. The core of each abusive relationship is power and control. Violence arises from using various strategies to exercise this. While domestic violence can take many different forms—physical, mental, financial, and sexual—the abuser also employs coercive control, intimidation, and emotional abuse. Violence cycles are frequently seen in abusive relationships. It is typically exceedingly tough to leave an abusive relationship because of the pattern.

The effects of domestic abuse are extensive. The impact of domestic violence (DV) differs from that of other types of abuse against women in that it is frequently permanent due to DV's constant and ongoing nature. For instance, if a woman undergoes forced abortions, she is susceptible to problems with her reproductive system, or it has been shown that in situations of persistent teasing, women frequently lose self-confidence and self-esteem. Domestic violence affects society and the household in addition to the individual victim.

Both government and non-governmental organisations have devised a number of interventions to deal with this issue. Because each society's social structure is unique, treatments must take into account the social realities. Domestic abuse is evolving with the times and taking on more complex forms. For instance, data indicates that financial abuse is still rising despite the fact that more and more women are becoming financially independent. Women may not always have use of their bank accounts or ATM cards. Many times, ladies do not even have access to the jewellery they received as wedding gifts. The problem persists despite laws protecting women from domestic violence and modifications in male and female social interactions. Domestic violence is still being sustained by the profoundly ingrained patriarchy in societal structures and interpersonal connections. It is crucial for interventionists working with victims of domestic abuse to keep in mind that every victim has a different experience and must have the freedom to make her own decisions. Interventionists should be avoided since they often have a judgmental mindset and are products of patriarchy.

Reference

Russia Moves to Decriminalize Several Cases Of Domestic Violence, Huffington Post, available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/russia-moves-to-decriminalizeseveral-cases-of-domestic-violence_us_5879a98ae4b09281d0eb2027, last seen on: 15.01.2017, last seen at: 11:00 PM
WHO. Multi country study on Women's health and domestic violence against women. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2007
b.Hooks, 2015, Talking back: thinking feminist, thinking black, Routeldge
R. Kaur and S.Garg, Addressing Domestic Violence Against Women: An Unfinished Agenda, Indian J Community Med. 2008 Apr; 33(2): 73–76.
http://www.who.int/violenceprevention/approach/ecology/en/, seen on 1st February, 2017, seen at: 1:00 AM