Introduction
The topic of domestic violence is quite relevant in our time and has gained considerable publicity in public discussions and mass media. The phenomenon of violence is directly related to the violation of human rights and requires legal punishment for the perpetrators and support for the victims. Creating ways to minimize and eventually eradicate this phenomenon is one of the main tasks of institutes that can provide such assistance. When discussing domestic violence, it is worth considering gender-based violence since gender often becomes the root cause of this phenomenon (John, Casey, Carino, & McGovern, 2020). Cruel treatment and disregard for interests can have different types and forms. However, their consequences always severely damage a person’s health, development, and socialization, often a threat to his life or even the cause of death. It is worth carefully investigating the basis of gender-based violence, evaluating quantitative data on this phenomenon, and determining possible ways of solving this problem.
Gender Discrimination as the Root Cause of Domestic Violence
The social dynamics of cases of domestic violence are often determined by gender inequality. The impact of violence against women negates fundamental human rights, primarily the right to health, which poses a significant threat to the social and economic development of communities and entire countries. From a development point of view, this directly jeopardizes the achievement of goals related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, poverty reduction, and infant and maternal mortality. Although we live within the framework of the world order, where human rights are recognized by law and guaranteed in international documents, the phenomenon of violence has not yet been eradicated.
Gender-based violence takes many forms: economic, physical or sexual, psychological, socio-economic, or humiliation through excessive exploitation or threats. All forms of violence have a psychological aspect since violence’s primary purpose is to harm another person’s dignity. Gender-based violence, like any violence, is a matter of power relations. It is based on a sense of superiority and the intention to assert this superiority in the family, school, work, community, or society as a whole.
Gender-based violence, particularly violence against women, is one of the most pronounced forms of unequal power relations between women and men. For example, a study of intimate partner violence in the United States found that the relationship between gender inequality and psychological victimization among women was significant (Willie, & Kershaw, 2019). The leading cause of violence is the perpetrator himself: it is essential to remember that a person who has experienced gender-based violence is never responsible for the perpetrator’s actions. There is no single factor in our society that can explain gender-based violence. On the contrary, countless factors contribute to it, and the interaction of these factors is the core of the problem.
Gender Theories in Sociology
Based on the works of Karl Marx, the gender theory of Marxism was built based on the assumption that there is a constant struggle for power and domination in society, which is manifested in the system of gender relations. The struggle is mainly between social classes competing for scarce resources, such as natural resources, and the better distribution of all resources, such as money, food, or other material goods. Marxist gender theory states that the conflict occurs not only in relations between employer and employee but also on a broader level. Parents and children, young and older generations, heterosexuals and homosexuals, and women and men can conflict for various reasons. Marxist gender theory has often been criticized for its overemphasis on the economic basis of gender inequality. Since a wife’s employment is no guarantee of overcoming male dominance. (Busbridge, Moffitt, & Thorburn, 2020). The gender division of domestic labor does not lead to a significant reduction in wages for women working outside the home or a reduction in their domestic responsibilities.
M. Weber’s contribution to the study of gender is the concept of patriarchy. He explained the dependent social position of women mainly through the physical and intellectual abilities of men. For Weber, patriarchal power was the oldest form of socially legitimate power because even in traditional pre-capitalist societies, power belonged to men. Weber did not question the fundamental division between men and women. He considered a man the connection unit between the mother and the child and society. Therefore, the father became the one who civilized the relationship (Adams, Roth, & Miller, 2020). In a way, then, Weber anticipated the feminist debate about the relationship between the public and private spheres, particularly the idea that women and children exist in a private sphere separate from the male-dominated public sphere.
Gender stereotypes as the basis of discrimination
Gender discrimination is associated with stereotypes that are firmly entrenched in social life. Gender stereotypes transmit gender roles from generation to generation, which relate to the meaning of men and women in society. No matter how much the struggle for equal rights continues in the world, the status of men and women is different. In our stereotypical view, masculinity is often characterized by active and creative personality traits, dominance, and self-confidence in a certain way. They are also credited with aggressiveness and a desire to be a leader. Femininity, on the other hand, is seen more as a passive-reproductive beginning, which tends to acquire expressive personal characteristics, such as dependence, caring, and emotionality. If we describe the stereotypes of social roles, the role of a housewife and mother is considered typical for a woman. Men, on the contrary, are active in public life by their role. They are credited with professional success and responsibility for the family’s financial support.
Results of Research on the Problem of Domestic Violence
Research Methodology
Two types of sources of necessary information were chosen for the analysis. Firstly, quantitative data were analyzed – percentage charts and comparative tables regarding official mentions of domestic violence cases during the Covid-19 pandemic. Secondly, interviews with ten female victims of domestic violence were used for quantitative data analysis. The women signed consent for the use of their testimony for research. Psychologists carried out the collection of information in conditions of complete confidentiality. After comparing the indicators, it is possible to reveal the extent of the prevalence of violence against women and girls and its consequences for women’s health and well-being and to outline ways to formulate a policy to counter the phenomenon of gender-based violence.
Results
The above study is designed to illustrate the problem of gender-based violence and its impact on women’s life. Data show that beliefs about the subordination of women and obedience to spouses still exist. Women’s primary role was the responsibility of mother, wife, and housewife. In particular, the study indicates that during the year of lockdown due to the pandemic, 18 significant empirical studies were conducted in which cases of domestic violence against women were discussed. An analysis of more than 22,000 records showed a significant increase in the cases described above during the quarantine (Piquero, Jennings, Jemison, Kaukinen, & Knaul, 2021). It was proven that the increase in cases of domestic violence occurred during the introduction of quarantine restrictions.
Based on the interviews, information was collected regarding the behavioral characteristics, emotional state, and type of violence perpetrated on the interviewed women. It has been determined that violence leads to emotional dependence and psychological instability. Moreover, it becomes difficult for the victim to self-identify himself and his role in society and regain control over his own life. Some women felt guilty for not ending the abusive relationship sooner. Three described the dominant emotion as fear, the others as sadness: almost all mentioned excessive alcohol consumption and excessive jealousy on the part of the abuser (Both, Favaretto, & Freitas, 2019). The analyzed data prove the devastating impact of domestic violence on the victim’s psychological health.
Conclusion
The study of the concept of gender is the basis of the study of gender stereotypes and prejudices in determining gender roles in society. In the sociological aspect, gender is studied through the prism of interpersonal relations. This scientific study highlights the injustice of gender roles as the root cause of domestic violence. A review of related sources showed that women are often more victims of domestic violence, both physical and psychological. The reason for this tendency is considered to be patriarchal-oriented norms of social order among the population. Two studies on this topic, conducted with different methodologies, were reviewed. Analysis of the data once again proved the devastating impact of domestic violence on the victim’s personality. Overcoming violence will be possible if there is a reduction in discrimination against women because stereotypes of gender behavior still exist and structures of gender inequality are reproduced.
References
Adams, J., Roth, B., & Miller, P. (2020). Debating patriarchy. Lilith: A Feminist History Journal, (26), 221-236. [PDF document]. Web.
Both, L. M., Favaretto, T. C., & Freitas, L. H. M. (2019). Cycle of violence in women victims of domestic violence: Qualitative analysis of OPD 2 interview. Brain and Behavior, 9(11), 1-13. Web.
Busbridge, R., Moffitt, B., & Thorburn, J. (2020). Cultural Marxism: far-right conspiracy theory in Australia’s culture wars. Social Identities, 26(6), 722-738. Web.
John, N., Casey, S. E., Carino, G., & McGovern, T. (2020). Lessons never learned: crisis and gender‐based violence. Developing World Bioethics, 20(2), 65-68. Web.
Piquero, A. R., Jennings, W. G., Jemison, E., Kaukinen, C., & Knaul, F. M. (2021). Domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Criminal Justice, 74, 1-10. Web.
Willie, T. C., & Kershaw, T. S. (2019). An ecological analysis of gender inequality and intimate partner violence in the United States. Preventive Medicine, 118, 257-263. Web.