Chapter 14: Family Abuse, Violence, and Other Health Issues

Summary

There are several different forms of abuse: intimate partner violence (IPV), Child maltreatment, incest, sibiling abuse, and elder abuse. These forms can be discussed in terms of gender, sexual orientation, and racial-ethnic groups.

The typical batterer statistically is one or several of the following: young, unemployed, cohabiting/separated, abusive of alcohol or other drugs, and/or had parents who beat. Thus, age, financial situation, relationship status, and history of drug use and parent abuse all are statistically significant factors when considering who batters.

The typical victim statistically is one or several of the following: young, female, multi-racial, and/or earns a low income. Thus, age, gender, race, and financial situation are all statistically significant factors when considering who is battered.

The reasons for abuse include stress, drugs, poverty, and divorce. Thus, there are both micro- and macro- level reasons for abuse.

Among all different kinds of abuse in the family, two forms of abuse are prevalent, physical abuse and emotional abuse. In addition to these two forms, depending on who is being abused, additional forms of abuse surface. A significant number or partners, children, and siblings experience sexual abuse. A significant number of children and elders are neglected (this abuse is most common among these groups). Elders are also abused through financial expoitation.

Same sex abuse differes in reasons for abuse. Same sex partners often abuse due to internalized homophobia or heterosexual discrimination.

The effects of abuse differ according to the kind of abuse. In child and adolescent abuse, long lasting problems may be created. These problems may be physiological, emotional, and/or social.

A number of theories attempt to understand why abuse occurs: patriarchal theory, social learning theory, resource theory, exchange theory, and ecological systems theory.

To decrease the number of abuse cases, a number of measures can be taken. First, we can raise awareness about these issues. Second, we can increase legislation and enforcement in order to intervene. And third, we can prevent abuse through abuse-education.

The chapter also discusses family health issues in general, including substance abuse, depressions and suicide, and eating disorders. Each of these health issues, like abuse, has a negative impact on the functioning and well-being of families.

What I learned

Whenver on thinks of abuse, one tends to think only about physical and sexual abuse. Through reading this chapter, I learend agreat deal about the different forms of abuse, including neglect, emotional abuse, and financial expoitation.

Question/Concern

I am surprised that the concept of masculinity did not come up in this chapter -- that seems as though it could be another reason that one, specifically a male, could be an abuser. Masculinity we tend to associate with dominance as opposed to femininity, which we tend to associate with submissiveness. Abuse is a form of dominance, insofar as the abused do not want to be abused and abuse is often a means towards getting someone to behave in certain ways that they do not want to behave. To affirm ones masculinity, then, and express dominance, it seems that one might abuse another person, male or female. This tendency might even be understood as a natural predispositon, insofar as it can be observed in nature. Male animals tent to assert their dominance through force.