Chapter 14 Blog

Summary:

The chapter starts off by bringing up the fact that even though many people do not think so they are more likely to be assaulted or killed by family members than by outsiders. It also states that common misconception that women are the only ones that can be abused is incorrect and that both men and women can be violent. It is just that abuse of women in relationships has the consequences of more serious physical and emotional damage involved then in situations with abused men. Low self-esteem and learned helplessness are affects that women and children suffer from after being battered. This is why women don’t leave abusive relationships for a number of reasons: poor self-concept, a belief that the man they love will reform, economic hardship, the need for child support, doubt that they can get along alone, fear, shame and guilt, and being imprisoned in their homes.

Also there are four major categories of child maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional maltreatment. The effects of this maltreatment are a variety of physical, social, and emotional problems. These problems can become long term and continue into adulthood. The sad thing about this maltreatment is the incidences of physical and sexual abuse among siblings and elderly abuse is greatly underreported. There are several theories that can be applied to these instances of domestic violence. The most influential are the male dominance theory, social learning theory, resource theory exchange theory and ecological systems theory. There are also other major problems that can affect a family that cause difficulties. There is substance abuse, parental drug use, depression, suicide, and eating disorders. The only way to decrease domestic violence and other problems is to do a better job of informing people about the problems, provide successful prevention programs, and implement better intervention strategies.

My opinions and Questions:

I think the issue of marital rape is actually quite terrifying. I just find it hard to believe that you would make someone do something against their will because you feel that you are entitled to whatever the person requests. Also the facts that it is such a high percent of 25% of women nationwide have been raped by their spouses. I just feel that especially with the women’s right movement being so much earlier than when the law against marital rape was created in 1993 there should have been action taken earlier. I mean why was this not an issue brought up by the women who participated in this movement?

The concept I still have difficulty trying to understand is the women who abuse men. I can see how it would happen, but I just do not understand how the woman overpowers the man physically. Men are naturally built to be stronger and larger than women. I feel that the matter has to be situational for their truly to be abuse of the man. The reason being is that unless the woman has means of overpowering the man there is just no way that a man could be abused. What do others in the class think? I know the book presents a few options but the factual information that they use to support the idea seems not completely solid.

The topic of same sex couples abuse also fascinated me. The main thing that fascinated is because where do those people go when they are abused. A woman could go to a women’s shelter, but her partner would also know where to go and would be able to find her easily. The same goes with the men. My question is where do these groups of people go to escape abuse? Also do people suspect that problem of domestic abuse does not apply to the homosexual community?