Some Theories on Violence Against Women

The following excerpts are from the book Interpersonal Violence, Health and Gender Politics, Stanley G. French, 1998

The Medical Model

"According to this theory, male violence against women is seen as the result of individual psychopathology on the part of the man and/or the woman (Bograd, 1988: French 1994). Violent men are seen as 'lone mad men', unable to stop themselves, and their women victims are seen as unfortunate women unable to avoid it or pathological women unwilling to avoid it (i.e. masochistic). While this has appeal to some (for it means that 'normal' women rarely have to worry about it happening to them and 'normal' men are relieved of any burden of guilt, it has no empirical support. The widespread nature of male violence against women make it clear that, rather than aberrant behavior, it is normal. Psychological profiles of men who violate women are not different from 'normal' men; nor are the profiles of violated women different from other women. As well, this theory fails to explain why 'crazed' men who abuse women carefully choose only women as victims. All it serves to do is excuse men and blame women for their own demise (Bograd, 1988:French 1994)" (p. )

The Social Psychology Model

"This theory attempts to link male violence against women to social norms and cultural values, identifying as culprit a sexist society in which some men learn to be violent and some women learn to be helpless (Bograd 1988). [...] this model is gender-neutral, seeing violence as a problem of both sexes and regarding sexual inequality as only one of many contributing factors. Instances of male violence against women are seen as a breakdown of social order and family functioning. [...] It contends that the solution to male violence against women lies in individual, not social change. Individual men must learn to deal with pathological aspects of learned masculinity and individual couples must work together to develop nonviolent interpersonal relationships." (p. )

The Feminist Model

"The violence is grounded in patriarchy's inequality of power--male domination and female oppression. In patriarchy, where masculinity is defined as man's ability to dominate and control, and fimininity as women's ability to be subordinate, violence is an issue of control. Rather than being a few men out of control, it is a form of social control used by a few men which succeeds in controlling all women. Thus patriarchy not only permits male violence against women, it is ultimately maintained by it (Bean 1992: Bograd 1988: French 1994). Patriarchy has so sanctioned male control of women in so many areas that neither women nor men, neither victim of violence nor perpetrator, see is as such (Bean 1992) It is for this reason that we continue to be surprised, when we should not be, at the existence of male violence against women, at its prevalence, and at its severity. Yet if we look closely at the struggle against male violence against women, we can see that often the struggle was over what degree of violence was acceptable and not whether violence itself was acceptable. For example, at first wife beating was completely and legally acceptable, then it was acceptable if the stick did not exceed the width of a man's thumb, then if it did not disturb the peace, all the while wife rape continued to be acceptable. Now the degree of acceptable violence is being limited to exclude wife rape; however the continued assumption of acceptance of some degree of violence is illustrated in the words of Bob Wilson, a U.S. State Senator debating the crimialization of marital rape: "But if you can't rape your wife, who can you rape?" (Yllo 1988: 31-32) The inability of men and women to see violence as social control, or even as abuse in some cases, hints at the importance of a psychological component of this social control." (p. )


Some Theories on Domestic Violence

Need for Power and Control

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence

"There are many different theories as to the cause of domestic violence. One of the leading theories is that domestic violence is fueled by a need for power and control over another person. The Domestic Abuse Intervention Project illustrated this by creating the "Power and Control Wheel" which shows power and control at the center, surrounded by spokes referring to techniques used, the titles of which include: The simplest theory that explains the cause for domestic violence comes from people who deal with bullies. It is a means to an end that is easier than other means. The heading on the UK National Website for Bullying in the Family states that 'Those Who Can, Do. Those Who Can't Bully.' It seems reasonable to add that those who won't also prefer violence too.

Given the complexity of human beings and human societies, it seems likely that the full scope of possible intentions for violence occur in domestic violence too. One film which shows some of these intentions is The Piano (1994). Domestic violence often seems to be intended to intimidate, deter, avenge, punish and/or to torture. Anthropologist Michael Ghigleiri, in his scientific study of male violence suggests that anger in insecure and jealous men who abuse women is associated with prior physical and verbal abuse by their mothers. These men who fear abandonment and cuckoldry by their wives, use abuse as the best way to stop them.

Though not by any means a cause, substance abuse and mental illness can act as fuel for domestic violence..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence