Domestic Violence: Social Influences on Gender and Violence

Male perceptions and domination in society shapes many aspects of female sexuality. In other terms, paternalism has been and still is a major influence on gender roles in American society (Brown 78-80; Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 71-72). These influences are part of the institutions and structures in society. Furthermore, male dominance is enforced by the use of violence in order to maintain the acceptable roles in society and suppress any others that are considered unacceptable or abnormal. Heterosexuality is supported in society starting at the family level and growing from there into institutions and social structures. For example, marriage is considered acceptable and participants in this practice receive benefits from the government, in their employment and from their insurance companies. Religious and governmental practices support heterosexuality (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 165). The patriarchal ideals handed down from the past are the basis of these structures. Females become objects for sex in these ideals by being presented in their gender roles. Males must be the initiators of action in their acceptable heterosexual roles. Females in their turn must be virtuous and alluring at the same time. Aggressive sexuality or choices other than heterosexuality for a female are considered negative and put into derogatory terms. Yet, males often do as they please to the extreme of using force and facing little if any punishment for it. Females must keep their virtues rigorously in order to avoid having their actions seen as seductive and deserving of blame for any unasked for sexual occurrences (Brown 78-80). This is a blatant double standard between the sexes. A large number of females have had violent encounters that cause stress and problems for them years into the future (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 166-9).

Feminists are skeptical about sexual independence. Females face the loss of their images and being seen as sluts if they practice sexual freedom (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 167-169). Yet, sexuality and freedom reached a new high after the pill came out in the seventies. People experienced a new freedom to have sex and not have the same concerns about pregnancy. However, there are feminists that consider this time as more oppressive for females than for men due to the expectation and pressure men put on females to have sex rather than having a freedom of choice. Concerns about health and safety due to the increased risks of sexually transmitted diseases have curtailed the sexual freedom movement. People face tougher choices now than in the past due to the AIDS virus and teens have in many cases chosen to abstain from intercourse and perform oral sex instead (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 168). Abstinence as a choice is taught to children in school again. I see this as a small return to religious principles (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 174). In the midst of these problematic issues and confusing social messages, females must find a place of safety and empowerment.

The men that are closest to us are the ones that are most likely to be our abusers. There are mental, emotional and physical abuses committed against females most often by the men they know best. I know this from my own life experiences. My second husband became abusive during the first year of our marriage. I had abusive boyfriends prior to him. However, I did not expect it from my spouse. Intimidation, threats, isolation and criticisms keep one scared, dependent and unable to find help (Brown 37-47 & 78-80 & 82). Twenty percent of girls in high school have reported abusive experiences. Rape and abuses are very under reported crimes making these reports only a fraction of the actual abuses committed. The victims of these crimes are most often-young females that are left to manage the long lasting feelings of shame, trauma and humiliation on their own (Chasin 253-4). Reporting violent and or sexual crimes is made more difficult for the victim by their fears of being seen as bad and blamed for their victimization (Chasin 255-6).

These acts of violence are not accidents and are due to the inequalities in society supported and caused by the establishment. Males are the supported and dominating gender in society. This influences the types of inequalities that occur in homes and contributes to the victimization of females (Chasin 249-50). There are larger forms of violence such as dehumanization of minority groups or enemy groups here and in other nations that are examples of structural support for violence against targeted groups and are similar forms of oppression that exists domestically for females (Chasin 250-52). There is the matter of deciding the types of actions that are and are not violence in a male dominated legal system. This is important in terms of going to court and making abusers face criminal penalties. Many men in society have different ideas about rape, violence and blame. Females are frequently blamed for being victims because of their behaviors despite the aggression of the abuser (Chasin 257-8). In conclusion, they are unsupported as victims at the same time that the perpetrators of the violence are given understanding due to the structures in society and the status of male gender.

The establishment itself is a contributor to domestic violence. The established inequalities in the roles between the genders promotes violence. For example, the question of rape in marriage is still debated. Inequalities between genders in employment creates an abusive environment for females since they have lower status in the same positions and usually have lower status jobs than males. Females face a double-edged sword of sexual harassment from men and the power over them of their employers on the job. This creates a more stressful and dangerous environment for females than for men and lowers the ability of females to pay for any legal battles in comparison to their male counterparts (Chasin 257-8). Being a victim in a legal system that is controlled by and favors men's interests over feminine interests is another dangerous environment due to the risks of further victimization. The legal definitions for violence against females are very rigid making it easier to get out of legal punishment over technicalities. This is further complicated by male domination in the legal professions. Police officers frequently are males and biased in favor of male interests. Females are at a disadvantage in the court system due to male preference and the expenses of the process. Economically, the glass ceiling for females and wage gap makes affording the judicial system more difficult for them as a group than it is for males putting females at a major disadvantage. In the political arena, men dominate in political office and express their bias in the types of laws and programs that are created. Feminine issues such as interpersonal violence are not very important in a male dominated society. These factors together produce an environment of violence towards females as lower status beings that is acceptable due to the cultural expectations for gender roles (Chasin 258-9). In conclusion, a female that does everything right in order to avoid becoming a victim or in response to being a victim is still at risk for further victimization by the system and her abuser.

References

Brown, Angela, PhD (1987) "When Battered Women Kill" The Free Press (A division of Simon and Schuster Inc.) (ISBN 0-02-903881-2)

Chasin, Barbara. (2004) "Inequality and Violence in the United States." (Chapters 8-16) 2nd edition. Humanity (ISBN-10: 159102160X)

Kirk and Okazawa-Rey. (2007). Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspective. "Women's Health" 4th edition. McGraw Hil. (ISBN: 0-07-352941-9)