“There is no

limit to what THEORY ON

we, as women,
can Wife beating:
accomplish.”
-Michelle Obama
A silent crime

Submitted by: Judea Warri E.

Alvior

Submitted to: Dr. Fe L.

Porciuncula

IGS-CLSU
Topic:

There is nothing new about wife beating. It has always happened, everywhere. There are many
reasons why wives stay in an abusive relationship. The husbands begin and continue his behavior of
violence because violence is an effective method for gaining and keeping control over another person.
Thus, the wives stay in violent marriages or relationships because they are afraid of changes.

Introduction:

Wife beating is a domestic violence. Domestic violence is a pattern of assault and coercive
behavior including physical, sexual and psychological attacks, by a person against his/her own intimate
partner. Women are more frequently the victims. Women and children are often in great danger in the
place where they should be the safest: within their families. For many, ‘home’ is where they
experienced fear and violence at the hands of somebody dear to them—somebody they should be able
to trust. The victims suffer emotionally and psychologically.

The great majority of perpetrators of violence are men. Women are at the greatest risk from
men they know. Physical violence is almost always accompanied by psychological abuse and in many
cases by sexual abuse and those women who suffer any physical aggression by a partner generally
experiences multiple acts over time.

Risk of violence is common in societies where the use of domestic violence in many situations is
a socially-accepted norm. Women accept physical and emotional abuse as a husband’s right, causing
women to view some violent behavior as less violent. They may not speak out against the violence
because they depend upon the husband for economic support and their cultural dignity. In many
countries, the battered women who leave such an abusive marriage or relationship are at risk of losing
their income, children, shelter, land and social status.

This paper will try to explain and identify factors that perpetuate domestic violence (why
husbands abuse their wives) and why wives still stays in an abusive relationship or marriage.
Objectives:

This theory aims to understand and demonstrate factors why husbands abuse their wives or the
factors that perpetuate domestic violence. And distinguish the possible reasons why the wives still stays
in an abusive relationship or marriage.

Hypothesis:

This is hypothesized that many victims blame themselves. Women victims often hear that they
must like or need abuse or they would just leave. Sometimes a woman feels that it is too dangerous for
her to leave her abuser. If the man has all of the economic and social status, it causes even more
problems for the woman. Many women have a lack of resources. Most women have at least one
dependent child. Many are not employed outside of the home. Many women have no property that is
solely theirs. A lot of women lack access to cash or bank accounts. Women who leave may fear being
homeless. The abusive person is they called batterer; the batterer usually does not suffer violence.
Batterers come from all groups and background and from all personality profiles. This is hypothesized
that the typical male batterer objectifies women. He does not see women as people, he doesn’t respect
a woman. He sees women as property or sexual objects.

Operational Definition of Terms

Batterer—refers to the one who exercises violence in a relationship

Battered Wife—a married woman who’s the victim of violence

Domestic Violence—refers to the types of violence that happening within marriage. It was actually
happens in home

Husbands—a male partner in marriage

Wives—a married woman

Proposition

There are several factors that perpetuate domestic violence when the woman is usually the
victim in terms of cultural, economic, legal and political aspects. These factors are possible key that
perpetuate violence. Also, there are factors why woman stays in an abusive marriage or relationship. It
was group in the following aspects: society, community and relationship, and the woman became a
‘beating wife’ that’s why it’s called a silent crime.
Theoretical Framework

Figure 1

MAJOR VARIABLE (PREDICTOR) PROCESS MAJOR CONCEPT

Factors that perpetuate
domestic violence: (PREDICTAND)
-Cultural Wife beating is culturally,
-Economic economically, legally and
-Legal politically incline with
Domestic violence of
-Political everyday lives of women. wife beating becomes
Factors why women stay in an Thus, the society,
abusive relationships a silent crime
community and
-Society
relationship are the factors
-Community
-Relationship that prohibit women to
leave in abusive
relationships.

Figure 1 shows that there are factors that perpetuate violence and why women stay in an
abusive relationship. Wife beating is culturally, economically, legally and politically incline with everyday
lives of women. The wife stays in an abusive relationship because the society, community, and
relationship prohibits her, thus wife beating becomes a silent crime.

Theoretical Literatures

Many women are interested in ways to predict whether they are about to become involved with
someone who will be physically abusive. Below is a list of behaviors that are usually seen in people who
beat their girlfriends or wives;

Quick Involvement—many battered women dated or knew their batterer (abuser) for less than six
months before they were engaged or living together. He may have come on like a whirlwind, and said
things like “you’re the only person I could talk to”, or “I’ve never felt loved like this by anyone before.”
He needs someone desperately, and will pressure the woman to commit to him.

Jealousy—at the beginning of a relationship, an abuser will always say his jealousy is a sign of love.
Jealousy has nothing to do with love; it’s a sign of insecurity and possessiveness. He will question the
woman about who she talks to, accuse her of flirting, or be jealous of time she spends with family,
friends or children. As the jealousy progress, he may call her frequently during the day or drop by
unexpectedly. He may refuse to let her work for fear she will meet someone else, or even do strange
behaviors such as checking her cellphone or asking friends to keep an eye on her.

Controlling Behavior—at first, the batterer will say that his behavior is because he’s concerned for the
woman’s safety, her need to use her time well, or her need to make good decisions. He will be angry if
the woman is late coming back from the store or an appointment, he will question her closely about
where she went, and who she talked to. As this behavior gets worse, he may not let the woman make
personal decisions about the house, her clothing, going to church; he may keep all the money or even
make her ask permission to leave the house or room.
Unrealistic Expectations—he is very dependent on the woman for all of his needs. He expects her to be
the perfect wife, mother, lover and friend. He might say things like, “If you love me, I’m all you need.”
She is supposed to take care of everything for him emotionally and in the home.

Isolation—the man may try to cut the woman off from all resources. He may want to live in a country
without a phone, he may not let her use the car, or he may try to keep her from working or going to
school.

Blames other for his problems—if he is unemployed, someone is always doing him wrong, out to get
him. He may make mistakes and then blame the woman for upsetting him and keeping him from
concentrating on doing his job. He will tell the woman she is at fault for almost anything that goes
wrong.

Hypersensitivity—the man is easily insulted, he claims that his feelings are hurt, when he’s really very
mad, or he takes the slightest set back as personal attacks. He will rant about the injustice of things that
have happened to him, things that are just part of living such as: being asked to work overtime, getting
stuck in traffic, being told that something he does is annoying, being asked to help with chores.

Cruelty to animals or children—this is a man who punishes animals cruelly or insensitive to their pain or
suffering. He may expect children to be capable of doing things far beyond their ability (whips a two-
year old child for wetting their diaper), or he may tease children or young brothers or sisters until they
cry. Sixty-percent of men who beat the woman they are with, also beat their children.

Verbal Abuse—in addition to saying things that are meant to be cruel and hurtful, this can be seen by
the man as degrading the woman, cursing her, running down any of her accomplishments. The man will
tell her that she is stupid and unable to function without him. This may involve waking her up to verbally
abuse her or not letting her sleep.

Rigid sex roles—the man expects the woman to serve him. He will demand that she stay at home, that
she must obey him in all things—even things that are criminal in nature. The abuser will see women as
inferior to men, more stupid, unable to be a whole person without a relationship.

Past battering—the man may say he has hit women in the past, but they made him do it. The woman
may hear from the relatives that the man is abusive. A batterer will beat any women he is with.
Situational circumstances do not make an abusive personality.

Threats of Violence—this would include any threat of physical force meant to control the woman.

Breaking or striking objects—this behavior is used as a punishment, but mostly used to terrorize the
woman into submission. The man may beat on table with his fist, throw objects around or near the
woman.

Any force during an argument—this may involve a man holding a woman down, physically restraining
her from leaving the room, any pushing or shoving.
 Wife Beating is also a violation of woman’s human rights. The United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has a right to life, liberty and security of a person and
that no one shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

Attitudes and view about domestic violence discouraging the woman to make it public, hence it
will become a silent crime. Here’s the following attitude of beliefs regarding domestic violence:

 The view that battering is an outlet for male frustration

 The men are drunk (their behavior is excusable)
 Male aggression is natural and as household head, a man can be aggressive to maintain
discipline in the family
 Battering is primarily a woman’s fault; she must have provoked him by neglecting her chores,
nagging, being unfaithful, etc.
 Women want to be battered and dominated by “real men”
 She is exaggerating and would have left if the situation was that bad.
 She should maintain family harmony and protect her husband’s name at all costs
 A man would stop the battering if the woman showed more sympathy to his remorse

There are 19 most commonly cited reasons why women stay in abusive relationships:

1. The man might still change for the better

2. She still loves the man despite of everything
3. She can’t abide a broken family
4. She’s doing it for the children
5. She can’t support the children by herself
6. She doesn’t want to be blamed by her parents for the breakup of the family
7. She is afraid of what the husband can do to her
8. The guy might take her kids
9. She probably deserves the beating
10. To maintain the good reputation of the man
11. Wife-beating is part of the hazards of getting married; it’s just natural for women to get beaten
12. She pities the man because nobody else understands him
13. If she improves herself, she won’t get beaten
14. She’s afraid to be alone and lonely
15. She doesn’t know she has rights not to be beaten
16. It’s a family affair and others shouldn’t meddle
17. He might lose his job if she calls the police
18. She grew up thinking that pleasing men is a woman’s responsibility
19. She’s used to it and will miss it

The woman may realistically fear that the abuser will become more violent and maybe even kill her
if she attempts to leave, many woman fear that. Also her family and friends may not support her
leaving. Some woman knows how hard it will be as a single parent with reduced financial means.
Women believed that there is a mix of good times, love and hope along with manipulation, intimidation
and fear in marriage or relationships and many women do not believe that divorce is a viable option.
Some believe that a single parent family is unacceptable and that even a violent father is better than no
father at all. Many women are socialized to believe that they are responsible for making the marriage
work, failure to maintain the marriage is the same as failure to a woman. There are other women who
become isolated from friends and families, either by the jealous and possessive abuser, or to hide signs
of the abuse from the outside world, the isolation contributes to a sense that there is nowhere to turn.
Some women rationalize their abuser’s behavior by blaming stress, alcohol, problems at work,
unemployment or other factors.

Females can suffer from violence throughout their life cycle as fetuses may be aborted just because
they are female, infants may be killed because they are female, girls may be neglected or subjected to
various types of abuse, adolescents may be raped, married women may be beaten, raped or killed by
their husbands and widows may be neglected. But what is “domestic violence?” Domestic violence is a
significant problem all over the world which adversely affects the health and safety of millions of women
throughout their lifespan, this includes:

 Willfully causing or attempting to cause physical injury

 Willfully or knowingly placing or attempting to place the spouse in fear of physical injury to
himself/herself or to one of his/her children
 Intimidation, harassment, maltreatment, brutality or cruelty
 Compelling the spouse by force or threat to engage in conduct or act, sexual or otherwise, from
which the spouse has a right to abstain
 Confining or detaining the spouse against will
 Any harm or threat to cause harm to a child of the spouse
 Causing or attempting to cause damage to the spouse’s property

The preceding paragraphs have explained some of the reasons why victims stay in an abusive
relationship. The simple fact is that other than those few with psychological problems, there aren’t
many people who want to be beaten or otherwise abused. Listed below are ten predictors of domestic
abuse. These signs often occur before actual abuse and may serve as clues to potential abuse.

1. Did he grow up in a violent family? People who are raised in families where they have been
abused as children, or where one parent beats the other, have grown up learning that violence
is normal behavior
2. Does he tend to use force or violence to solve problems? A person with a criminal record for
violence, or who gets into fights or like to act though is likely to act the same way with a spouse
and children. Is there a quick temper? Does he over-react to little problems and frustration? Is
there cruelty to animals? Does he punch walls or throw things when he’s upset? Any of these
behavioral patterns may be a sign of a person who will work out bad feelings with violence.
3. Does he abuse alcohol or other drugs? There is a strong link between violence and problems
with drugs and alcohol. The potential victim should be alert to possible drinking or drug related
 problems, particularly if the person refuses to admit that he has a problem or refuses to get
help.
4. Does the man have strong traditional ideas about what a man should be and what a woman
should be? Does he think a woman should stay at home, take care of her husband and follow his
wishes and orders?
5. Is the man jealous of her other relationships, not just with other men but with some women
friends and family? Does he want to know where she is at all times?
6. Does he have access to guns, knives and other lethal instruments? Does he talk of using them
against people or threaten to use them to get even?
7. Does he expect her to follow his orders or advice? Does he get angry if she does not fulfill his
wishes or if she cannot anticipate what she wants?
8. Does he go through extreme highs and lows? Is it almost as if he is two different people? Is he
extremely kind one minute and extremely cruel another?
9. When he gets angry does the woman fear him? Does she spend a major part of her life trying
not to make him angry? Is she required to do what he wants to do rather than what she would
like to do?
10. Does he treat her roughly? Does he physically force her to do what she doesn’t want to do?

Factors that Perpetuated Domestic Violence

Cultural Factors

 Gender-specific socialization
 Cultural definitions of appropriate sex roles
 Expectations of roles within relationships
 Belief in the inherent superiority of males
 Values that give men propriety rights over women and girls
 Notion of the family as the private sphere and under male control
 Customs of marriage (bride price/dowry)
 Acceptability of violence as a means to resolve conflict

Economic Factors

 Women’s economic dependence on men

 Limited access to cash and credit
 Discriminatory laws regarding inheritance, property rights, use of communal lands, and
maintenance after divorce or widowhood
 Limited access to employment in formal and informal sectors
 Limited access to education and training for women
Legal Factors

 Lesser legal status of women either by written law and/or by practice

 Laws regarding divorce, child custody, maintenance and inheritance
 Legal definitions of rape and domestic abuse
 Low levels of legal literacy among women
 Insensitive treatment of women and girls by police and judiciary

Political Factors

 Under-representation of women in power, politics, the media and in the legal and medical
professions
 Domestic violence not taken seriously
 Notions of family being private and beyond control of the state
 Risk of challenge to status quo/religious laws
 Limited organization of women as a political force
 Limited participation of women in organized political system

There is no one single factor to account for violence perpetuated against women. Several complex
and interconnected social and cultural factors have kept women particularly vulnerable to the violence
directed at them, all of them manifestations of historically unequal power relations between men and
women. Factors contributing to these unequal power relations include: socio-economic forces, the
family institution where power relations are enforced, fear of and control over female sexuality, belief in
the inherent superiority of males.

Lack of economic resources underpins women’s vulnerability to violence and their difficulty to leave
from a violent relationship. On the other hand, the threat and fear of violence keeps women from
seeking employment, or at best, made them to accept low-paid, home-based labor where women is
usually exploited, and without economic independence, women have no power to escape from an
abusive relationship. This argument also holds true in some countries: that is women’s increasing
economic activity and independence is viewed as a threat which leads to increased male violence. This is
particularly true when the male partner is unemployed, and feels his power weakened in the household.

Studies have also linked a rise in violence to the destabilization of economic patterns in society.
Macro-economic policies such as structural-adjustment programs, globalization, and the growing
inequalities they have created have been given way in increasing levels of violence in several regions
including Latin America, Africa and Asia. Transition period in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe
including the former Soviet Union –with increases in poverty, unemployment, hardship, income-
inequality and alcohol abuse—has led to increased violence in society in general, including violence
against women.

Religious and historical traditions in the past have sanctioned the beating of wives. The physical
beating of wives has been particularly granted under the notion of entitlement and ownership of
women. Male control of family wealth inevitably places decision-making authority in male hands,
leading to male dominance and propriety rights over women and girls.

The concept of ownership legitimizes control over women’s sexuality, which in many law codes has
been granted to ensure the patrilineal inheritance. Women’s sexuality is also tied to the concept of
family honor in many societies. Traditional norms in these societies allow the killing of daughters, sisters
and wives suspected of dishonoring the family by indulging in forbidden sex, or marrying and divorcing
without the consent of the family.

Experiences during childhood such as witnessing domestic violence and experiencing physical and
sexual abuse have been identified as factors that perpetuated domestic violence. Excessive consumption
of alcohol and other drugs has also been noted as a factor in provoking aggressive and violent male
behavior towards women and children.

The isolation of women in their families and communities is known to contribute to increase
violence particularly of those women have little access to family or local organizations. On the other
hand, women’s participation in social networks has been noted as a critical factor in lessening their
vulnerability to violence and in their ability to resolve domestic violence.

Lack of legal protection, particularly within the sanctity of the home, is a strong factor in
perpetuating violence against women. However, states are seen as responsible for protecting the rights
of women even in connection with offences committed within the home. In many countries violence
against women is worsen by legislation, law enforcement and judicial systems that do not recognize
domestic violence as a crime.

Factors Why Women Stays in an Abusive Relationships

Society

 The society has a norm that the men control over the female behavior. That’s why some women
think that it is okay for male to inflict violence on them, thus making the wife beating a silent
crime.
 Acceptance of violence as a way to resolve conflict. Women think that their husbands are
disciplining them by doing violence on them. This is normal for society to inflict violence as a
means to resolve the conflict within family.
 The notion of society that masculinity is linked to dominance. Women stay in an abusive
relationship because society dictates that man must become dominant. Being dominant is a sign
of masculinity.
 Society’s rigid gender roles. The society lets the woman to submit to their husband.

Community

 Poverty and low socio-economic status. Women stay in an abusive relationship because they are
poor and they belong to the low socio-economic status. They are afraid of what poverty can do
to them that’s why they chose to stay despite of violence they are experiencing.
  Isolation of women and family. Women are frightened that they will become isolated in the
community if they leave their abusive husband. They are afraid that the community which they
belongs to blamed them. Women are afraid to the people in the community who will questions
her decision in leaving their abusive husbands.

Relationship

 Violence is a result of marital conflict. Some women views that violence is acceptable within the
family because it was just a marital conflict within husband and wife.
 Male control of wealth and decision-making in the family. Women believed that the husband
should be in the control of money and decision making in the family. The woman, as a wife is
just a support, that’s why most women are afraid to leave the abusive relationship.

Range of Application:

This particular theory helps to become an eye-opener to the women and in the society in
general. Because there is no simple solution to domestic abuse, if there was such a simple solution, the
problem would have been solved a long ago. It is great that we learn from the past but it is time to deal
with the present and the future. This theory helps to avoid the increasing number of being abused
because domestic abuse can no longer be considered a private family matter but a public problem.
Every one of us will suffer from domestic abuse. We may not be abused or we may not know anyone
directly that is being abused. We need to realize that people are suffering and this theory will help you
to deal with it. The victim may be male or female. The victim may be a child or elderly. The victim may
be your sister or your neighbor. The abuser may be your doctor, your lawyer or your best friend. No
matter what the status or economic class of those involved, it is time to act.

Recommendations:

From the propositions made and theoretical literatures gathered, the following
recommendations are formulated:

1. Anyone can do something to stop the violence. You can organize the community to monitor
violent spouses and come to the aid of battered women. Local police, barangay officials, and
medics can be trained on a more caring and sensitive way to deal with the women. Or you can
simply listen and guide the women towards available services to help them rebuild their
shattered lives.
2. Keeping domestic violence a secret can be a heavy burden to most women. Just telling
somebody willing to listens help. Call someone who’s ready for counseling or any organizations
that helps battered women and pour out your story.
3. All attempts to eradicate the domestic violence should be encouraged by all countries. This
would result not only in better health of women, but also in a better health and quality of life for
the whole family and of course the whole nation.
 4. Training of medical personnel to deal with the victims of domestic violence with proper
education and employment.
5. Changing community norms, reducing risk factors such as poverty and alcohol consumption,
research and monitoring and strict legislative measures would be helpful in eradicating domestic
violence against women.

Literature Cited:

Heise L, Ellsberg M, Gottmoeller M. Ending Violence Against Women. Population Reports Series L [11].
Baltimore (MD): Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Population Information
Program; 1999.

Hindin M, Adair L. Who’s at Risk? Factors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence in the Philippines.
Social Science and Medicine 2002; 55: 1385.

World Health Organization (1996). Violence Against Women. WHO Consultation, Geneva: WHO.