Domestic violence

Domestic violence

1. Statistics

   • 1 in 4 women
   • 1 in 6 men
   • Only 35% of incidents are reported
   • On average a woman suffers 35 assaults before making a report

2. Police and prosecutors may be reluctant to record

   • Family is private
   • They neglect the 'darker' side of family as it is generally good
   • Victims have the power to leave

3. The radical feminist explanation

   • Men are the enemy - they oppress and exploit
   • Family and marriage are the key institutions in a patriarchal society
   • Violence against women maintains men as power holders
   • Criticisms
     • Elliott argues that violence against men is ignored
     • Not all men are violent

4. Groups at risk

   • Children and young people
   • Lower classes
   • Those with high levels of alcohol consumption or drug use

5. Wilkinson: domestic violence, inequality and stress

   • Caused by social inequality - families with less money/resources
   • Lower classes experience more stress
   • Criticisms
     • Doesn't explain why it's mainly men against women