Theories of Domestic Violence Research Assignment Paper (Essay Sample)

Theories of Domestic Violence
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Theories of Domestic Violence
With the escalation of domestic violence everywhere in the world, sociologists have advanced numerous theories to explain why this social malady is so prevalent. Typically, these perspectives attempt to understand the underlying societal and personal factors that act individually or collectively to make couples or families unleash violence on one another (Harne & Radford, 2008). Markedly, consensus exists that no theory is superior to another and none may be sufficient to address the broader question of domestic violence in isolation. Consequently, a holistic approach and application of concepts is needed to unravel a simple yet difficult to solve problem. This paper will delve into two of these theories namely the culture of violence theory and gender-role theory and summarize their main principles. Moreover, the paper will critique the significance of domestic violence in influencing the court in making determinations on which parent will have custody of minor children.
Gender-role Theory
This perspective of domestic violence argues that the socialization of children into specific gender roles orient them towards certain directions as it relates to violence (Gosselin, 2005). Traditionally, virtually all societies are, or have been, patriarchal. Men have been viewed as protectors and providers who have to go any length in performance of these two duties. Moreover, most societies inculcate into their male members that they should be dominant and aggressive in addition to showing little emotions except anger. Consequently, from an early age, men grow up believing that to be a man and to be violent is the same thing. Whenever confronted by a situation that would ordinarily be solved through other means such as dialogue, men find it easy to act violently to protect their traditional orientation. This explanation explains why men are mostly perpetrators rather than victims of violence.
Conversely, most societies define women’s roles in terms of passivity and subservience. A woman is expected to placidly acquiesce to whatever life brings her way. Especially when dealing with men, who the society dictates are superior, women should yield. This explains why women, more than men, are victims not perpetrators of domestic violence. Similarly, the society has created responsibilities for women that make them vulnerable to domestic violence (Lombard & McMillan, 2013). For instance, women are mostly expected to care for children and family. Rarely are they encouraged to take up roles that would demand of them aggressiveness or alternatively make then self-reliant. The stated allocation of roles means that they will perpetually be dependent on men and hence susceptible to abuse.
The gender-role theory also attempts an explanation of the prevalence of sexual violence especially targeting women (Harne & Radford, 2008). Girls are expected to dress and act to please men. Consequently, when men take advantage of them, women accept it as only natural given they invited it themselves. Conversely, men are expected to be sexually aggressive hence the sense of entitlement that leads to sexual violence. Among peers, it is common for men to discuss their sexual conquest as a sign of ability because of how they are socialized.
Culture of Violence Theory
This theory posits that the broader acceptance of violence as a means of resolving issues has laid the foundation for violence at domestic level (Gosselin, 2005). In many societies, people view violence as a form of entertainment or squaring out disagreement. Whenever an argument arises between two people, it is very common for others to encourage them to fight whereby the winner will be right and the loser wrong. The same mentality has pervaded families where men especially physically abuse women to prove they are on the right.
The theory also argues that violence mainly originates from the national level before trickling down to the lowest societal level. If the leaders glorify the use of force to handle disputes with each other or other nations, people at local level will view violence as an important tool to use between themselves. To minimize violence therefore, the culture of violence theory argues that cultural variables need to be restructured (Gosselin, 2005). In other words, violence needs to be delegitimized and disavowed at all levels of the society. The move could see future generations resort to other means of resolving disputes between themselves except violence.
Domestic Violence and Child Custody
From the dominant patriarchal socialization that pervades most parts of the world, children b...