Domestic violence began to be recognised as a serious social issue in the 1970’s, and the term domestic violence covered a variety of behaviours ranging from verbal and emotional abuse, to physical attacks, sexual assault and rape. These types of cases are more commonly, though not exclusively inflicted by males, and are often referred to as ‘wife beating’ or ‘wife battering’. The cycle of violence demonstrates the complex dynamics of an abusive relationship. There are three phases in the cycle of violence: tension building phase, followed by the acute battering incident, and finally the honeymoon phase.
During the tension-building phase, minor battering may occur along with verbal abuse. This phase, also known as ‘walking on egg shells’, women anticipate that violence is going to happen, and they try placating the barterer or may even escalate the situation to get the battering over and done with. Eventually the tension phase evolves into the acute battering, or violence phase. At this phase, the abuse happens, and the victim has limited control over the violent situation. After this comes the honeymoon phase, which is the last in the cycle. At this stage the barterer is remorseful and promises that battering will never happen again. The honeymoon phase is similar to the courtship period, in that the barterer is very loving, nurturing, and attentive to the victims needs. Victims are often persuaded during this phase, in hope that the barterer will revert to the person with whom she initially fell in love with. Women remain hopeful that the abuse will just end. Other factors need consideration when asking why women stay in abusive relationships; the frequency of violent episodes determines the likelihood of women continuing the relationship. For instance, the less severe and less frequent the violence, the more likely the woman is to stay. Another factor to consider is the way women view the role of men and women in family relationships. Women who hold more traditional values, such as ‘for better or for worse’ are more likely to stay in abusive relationships. (Websdale 1998).
These values set the stage for women to feel that if they leave, the children will be deprived of a mother or father. (Websdale 1998). The most compelling reason why battered women stay, is that she fears if she attempts to leave, the violence will escalate. Unfortunately this fear is all too real. Women have been beaten beyond recognition, and even murdered as a result of trying to escape away from the violence.
Domestic violence is a widespread form of crime, which is notoriously under reported, and this leads it to seem low, through official statistics.
It has been estimated that only 1 out of 270 incidents of wife abuse is ever reported to the authorities as many victims are to afraid or ashamed to report it. Some victims blame themselves, and suggestions have been made that domestic violence is part and parcel of married life, and is a private matter that should not be interfered with by outsiders.
Research commissioned by the home office in 1990, found that in the past, the police did not always take cases of domestic violence seriously. In response, police have set up special domestic violence units to support victims. This reflects the recognition previously lacking that domestic violence is in fact a serious crime. Other key members of society, such as doctors, social workers, or even neighbours have played a part in perpetuating the cycle of domestic violence, by failing to confront it, or shifting responsibility back to the victim.
Today’s society has become more open to the phenomenon of child abuse. This too is also a feature of what is referred to as, the ‘dark side’ of the family. The acknowledgement of the more sinister side of family life has brought a shift of emphasis in favour of listening to children and taking account of their experiences within the family. In previous eras, children were not regarded as vulnerable members of the community but treated as adults, and only gradually did a sense of their needs and rights come to be identified as an issue of social concern.
There are many different interpretations of child abuse, reflecting both the variety of perspectives on this subject and the range of behaviour that is regarded as constituting forms of abuse. The NSPCC and the National Children’s Home, (NCH) recognise and keep statistics on four types of abuse, these are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and negligence.
In the 1990’s cases of child abuse, along with child negligence, have become familiar news stories covered in the media. The public recognition the child abuse takes place, the lifting taboo against open discussion and the move in favour of listening to children all help to account for the dramatic increase in the rates of recorded child abuse, not only in Britain, but internationally.
It is likely that many cases remain unrecognised and unrecorded due partly to a misplaced sense of shame or embarrassment on the part of the abused, or even due to threats made by the abuser in the event of the facts becoming public.
Statistics imply that levels of abuse are higher in poor and working class areas. However it is significant that we realise that child abuse occurs in all strata of society.
Public concern over child abuse has expressed both the sense of moral outrage and perhaps the community’s awareness that it bears some sort of responsibility for allowing such behaviour to persist.
Many people suggest that the protection and reinforcement of family values is problematic in that it reinforces the very institution which is the source of conflict. However because people have higher expectations than ever of family life, the family in all its forms continues to play a vital role in society.