Examine the patterns of, and reasons for, domestic violence in society.

assaults occur every year, half of which result in physical injury.Domestic violence follows certain social patterns and these patterns have social causes. Most shocking of which is that violent abuse is mainly commented by men against women. Catriona Mirrlees-Blacks survey in 1999 found that 99% of violent domestic crimes were against women, with roughly ¼ women having been assaulted by a partner at one point in her life and 1/8 continually assaulted compared to 1/7 men that are assaulted by women, 1/20 repeatedly.  This is supported by the Dobash and Dobash (1979) research based on official records and interviews with women’s refuge residents. They recounted incidents where husbands abused their wives. A pattern arose showing that husbands reacted to situation that challenged their authority, arguing that marriage justifies inequality between men and women.Although official statistics of domestic violence are recorded, they are not full reliable, underestimating the occurrence, mainly due to victims being unwilling to report the incident. Yearnshire (1997) found the average woman endures up to 35 assaults before filing a report, many assaults go unreported. David Cheal (1991) investigated why prosecutors are reluctant to pursue the cases reported, finding that they are uncomfortable interfering with family life. They tend to overlook the ‘darker side of family life’ seeing it as a private unit and assume that someone suffering from any form of abuse is free to leave.Most feminists believe that society is based around patriarchy, men being the opposing party claiming that they overpower and ‘use’ women, seeing them as inferior. Kate Millet (1970) and Shulamith Firestone (1970) back this point stating a clear divide between men and women within society. Radical feminists view domestic violence as a means for men to protect their power, seen as a key aspect within marriage and family life. The idea of a patriarchal society explains the hesitation expressed by prosecutors when dealing with domestic violence cases. Link between social norms expected of marriage. The feminist view ignores the majority of men that are well tempered and disagree with domestic abuse, and the women that abuse men and children, a statement supported by Faith Robertson Elliot (1996) referring back to the statistics of Mirrlees-Black.Mirrlees-Black also argues that women are not the only people at risk but also a number of social groups, such as children and young people, the elderly, financially strained, low social classes and those with high levels of alcohol and/or drugs consumption. These may overlap, like children of lower social class are at a higher risk that children of a high social class.Richard Wilkinson (1996) establishes a link between domestic violence and social inequality, stating the people from a lower social class are usually under more stress making it less likely to maintain a stable living environment and a caring relationship.