Sociology-Divorce and Family Violence

250 or more words each question-USE LECTURES ATTACHMENTS

 

1-Identify, describe and illustrate, at least four important reasons for divorce in this society today.  Is divorce likely to increase or decrease in the future?  Why?  Incorporate both economic and cultural dimensions in your answer.  Incorporate gender, race, ethnicity and social class in your answer/analysis.   For one of your choices, suggest policies which might help strengthen the family.  

 

2-In instances of domestic violence the abuser use a variety of tactics to control the victim.  Review the tactics described in the power and control wheel.  Identify at least three factors which enhance the power of the abuser and three which make the victim more vulnerable.   The vulnerabilities are aspects of the victim’s situation or outlook which make them easier to control with abuse.  Why can the tactics used by abusers be so effective?  Explain ways in which women and children can become more vulnerable to violence and abuse.   (For example, the role of our cultural “myths” about domestic violence.) 

 

Due Sunday May 19th by 6PM EST

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This society is one in which the idea of marriage and family remain strong

and many divorced people remarry. The modern stepfamily is much more

likely to be the result of at least one divorce and the challenges they face are

considerable. Diverging expectations about the role of parents, stepparents

and children are a typical challenge. The multitude of transitions faced by

children make their lives more difficult. There are also conflict between

custodial and noncustodial parents and stepparents. There are many times

when the responsibilities and the prerogatives of the stepparents are neither

clear nor codified in law. In addition, stepchildren are not sure about the

extent and legitimacy of the authority of the stepparent. Some of these

problems are solved by adoption but not all. As this family form becomes

increasingly common, the problem of cultural lag must be addressed in order

to ensure that children thrive in their new environments.

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Every culture has images of what constitutes the ideal. In this society, the

marriage vows include fidelity and a lifetime commitment. Every society also

has patterns of real behavior that do not match the ideal. There is always

some kind of conflict between the ideal, the proper, and real or smart”

patterns of behavior. One of these conflicts, where the ideal, in this case

(even the laws) which prohibited collusive divorce and the reality that there

were numerous collusive divorces where the partners found a way around

the law.

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These and many other historical developments have had profound impacts

upon the society and the family. In each case, there was “culture lag” which

means that the behaviors changed before the beliefs and values changed.

There were beliefs/values about what was proper and behaviors that did not

conform to these.

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•We have already discussed much of the impact of industrialization and

urbanization on the family. You see the increasing importance of the public-

private split. Housework became devalued and invisible and families were

separated by the demands of earning a living. The breadwinner role

becomes more important.

•World War I also separated families because many men were fighting.

Women often had to take on more responsibility for their families. However,

despite their absence, soldiers were still seen as breadwinners.

•The 1

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20’s have some things in common with the baby boom after World

War II. Traditional values were challenged by social change and women

became more “daring.”

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Many of the concerns about alcohol consumption which contributed to
Prohibition were sentiments which had been expressed for a long time. Prohibition were sentiments which had been expressed for a long time.

•The public-private split associated with industrialization and urbanization
contributed to the emergence of the urban “saloon.” Wives were concerned
that many husbands were stopping by a saloon on their way home after
work and “spending the rent money” on alcohol.

•In addition, alcohol abuse was contributing to the incidence and severity of
domestic violence.

•With the waves of new immigrants, many of whom were bachelors,
concerns about the undermining of traditional English/W.A.S.P. values and
Prohibition was eventually passed. People like Henry Ford supported
Prohibition because he saw alcohol consumption as threat to worker
productivity.

•This legislation increased the contradictions between the ideal (no alcohol)
and reality. Although poorer people actually drank more alcohol because it
was more expensive, the wealthy and the middle class became involved in
the underground “speakeasy/blind pig” scene. Ironically, this meant that
women were more likely to go to these bars because they excitement and
cost led people to see this kind of behavior as smart because of the status
associated with it. Women actually drank more “out in public” during
Prohibition than they had before. Organized crime also became much more
powerful during that time.

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Challenges to the values and ideals of the day, including the increasing

influence of organized crime, eventually had a negative impact on unions

and the labor movement. For example, Henry Ford had originally been in

favor of Prohibition. However, when organized crime figures threatened his

family he backed off and he eventually even hired some of these people to

challenge the workers when they tried to unionize and/or gain improvements

in their pay and working conditions. The continuing decline of unions

contributed to the decline in real wages in this society. Across time,

increasing financial pressures were an important factor in the increasing

divorce rates.

•The Great Depression contributed to the repeal of Prohibition because it

was thought that this would increase the number of jobs. Women began to

work in bars and taverns in “legitimate” jobs. T

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•In reality, the repeal of Prohibition did not do much to improve the economy

but our entrance into World War II did. Women began to enter the

workplace in increasing numbers and, with the exception of the 1950’s, that

trend has continued until today. Increasing numbers of women in the

workplace has meant that the traditional “duties” of the breadwinner role

have been modified. Women were better able to make the decision to

divorce because they had jobs and men could more easily justify divorce

when their wives were employed.

•The 1950’s were a time of economic stability which made it possible for a

breadwinner to support their family on the one income. The divorce rate was

low and many families had quite a few children—the “baby boom.” This

bulge in the youth demographic eventually had far-reaching consequences

for the society and families.

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As baby boomers grew up, the size and significance of a youth culture

increased. The generation gap increased between parents and children.

They were the first media generation. With such great numbers and the

importance of media such as music and television increasing, they became

a visible force in the society. Social scientists point to the emergence of

mass marketing as a result of their increasing buying power. Many suggest

that the marketing of Woodstock was the beginning of the kind of mass

marketing to the young that continues today. In any case, the increasing

distance between young people and their parents led to even greater culture

lag and rebellion. The availability of effective birth control also increased the

distance between ideal values and real behavior. Rebellion and technology

combined to change courtship and family formation forever. And, the

increasing individualism and “youth centeredness” of the society also

increased the likelihood of divorce.

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Contemporary society continues to change at an ever more rapid pace. This
change has presented even more challenges to the stability of the family.change has presented even more challenges to the stability of the family.

•Technological change has meant more changes in the ways in which people
interact with each other. We can communicate across space and time and travel
around much more readily. This means that we come into contact with many more
people. This expands our choices for marriage partners but also increases the
opportunities to be unfaithful to our spouses or to engage in behaviors that threaten
the stability of the family including such things as substance abuse and gambling.
The internet and cell phones have made it possible for people to meet and interact
in new ways, etc. However, this increased capacity to communicate with others
has also increased the likelihood of infidelity and divorce.

•In the print media there are “personals advertisements,” images of romantic love,
the sexualization and objectification of women, sensationalizaton of events etc.
Beauty standards and sexualization of women have dramatically increased the
likelihood of infidelity and divorce. Radio and television reflect many of the same
themes. We confuse lust and love and we strive for standards of ahink
“basppearance that are essentially unattainable.

•The media has created a “celebrity culture” which has become a celebration of
fame, regardless of the reason. (Think “balloon boy”, John and Kate, Paris Hilton,
and the numerous stories about marital infidelity: John Edwards, Tiger Woods, etc.)
Reality shows and controversial talk shows continuously discuss horrendous
examples of couple and marital dsyfunction without discussing the societal causes.
Are we becoming and “anything goes” society?)

•In fact, many of the images of the “good life” are more likely to be out of reach of
families. (We discussed those trends last week.)

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In earlier times, family violence was largely invisible. In recent In earlier times, family violence was largely invisible. In recent

decades there has been more recognition of the problems and study

of the causes and consequences. Nevertheless, family violence

remains hidden much of the time. The fact that it is hidden reflects the

fact that vulnerable populations do not have the ability to expose the

perpetrator or access effective help from the larger society.

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As a form of direct violence, family violence involves deliberate injury to the

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integrity of human life. This injury can be physical and/or psychological.

•Family violence can include restrictions on the activities, and even the

thoughts, of the victims, and actual physical constraints.

•Brutality includes battering and other forms of maltreatment, torture, rape,

etc.

•Homicide involve the illegal taking of a life.

•American society and other industrialized societies are patriarchal. In fact

patriarchy has been the norm for most societies. In earlier societies, the

patriarchal head of the household had tremendous power over the other

members of the family. For example, in British Common Law and in the

American colonies there was a “rule of thumb” which stated that a man could

not beat his wife with a stick whose circumference was larger than that of his

thumb. In fact, homicide was often an option and/or a reality. The

persistence of such practices as “honor killings” and female genital

mutilation reflect the persistence of this level of patriarchy in some societies

and families.

•Power implies inequality. To the extent that power and control form a part

of the self-concept of the head of the household or the breadwinner, we see

a tendency for that power to be abused, especially when the abuser feels

inadequate or when their power is threatened.

•Unequal power relationships reflect the norms and values of a society.

Ideas about the appropriate roles to play and the behaviors associated with

these roles result in the creation and perpetuation of relative powerlessness

in certain categories of the population. In addition, the victimization of such

categories tends to be invisible because they have little or not recourse

against the abusive behavior of the dominant member(s) of the family.

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This abuse of power and control and the invisibility associated with it create
several particularly vulnerable populations, categories of people. Children several particularly vulnerable populations, categories of people. Children
are, of course, the most vulnerable. Human beings remain dependent upon
their caretakers for many years after their birth. They must have their
physical needs met and learn the skills necessary to function in human
society. They rely upon their caretakers to teach them the skills necessary
to form an identity and to define and explain the world around them. Social
scientists have observed that socialization of children is never perfect, that
parenting is a challenge, and that it is all too easy to create a sociopath or a
psychopath by abusing and neglecting children.

The process of socialization shapes all aspects of a child’s development

•Their “reality” is socially constructed. An abused or neglected child has no
way of knowing that this kind of treatment is not “normal.” Their reality is
based on their own immediate circumstances and they do not have the
resources or the opportunity to learn about healthier alternatives.

•Their own sense of self is warped by abuse and neglect.

•Aspects of their own personalities reflect their experiences and their view
of, experiences, with the world. According to Eric Ericson, children learn
early in life to be trusting vs. mistrusting, autonomous vs. doubting, to
display initiative vs. guilt even before we leave home to go to school. And,
according to G. H. Mead, we learn the majority of this from our “significant
others” whom we depend upon and imitate.

They experience both abuse and neglect.

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Children are the victims of both abuse and neglect

•Physical abuse results from the power of the caregivers and societal

attitudes about discipline as a part of our childrearing practices. (The old

saying “spare the rod and spoil the child reflects the ideas about discipline

that were so commonplace in earlier generations.) And, if a child has been

abused, they are much more likely to become an abusive parent as well. It

seems “natural” and “normal” to them. This is referred to as the “cycle of

violence.”

•Emotional abuse reflects a serious abuse of power. This kind of abuse is

most often used to control children. It seriously impacts their sense of

security and their ability to develop the skills and initiative to function

effectively in the society.

•Sexual abuse of children is the most hidden form of abuse. As with all

types of abuse, it is socially unacceptable and, it is also illegal. However,

young victims of this type of abuse are threatened with harm and

encouraged to blame themselves for their own victimization. We talk a lot

about “stranger danger” in this society but much of the sexual abuse of

children is at the hands of family members.

•Children are also especially vulnerable to neglect which can easily result in

a failure to thrive.

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As spouses and domestic partners, women are the most vulnerable to

abuse. Patriarchy and sexism make women more vulnerable to all kinds of

abuse; emotional, physical, sexual and economic. In fact, they are often

blamed for their victimization by other family members and by the society as

a whole. It is only in recent decades, for example, that marital rape has

been recognized as a crime. The outcomes of this violent victimization

include both physical and mental illnesses.

Women are much more likely to be the victims of domestic violence

including:

•Emotional abuse

•Battering

•Rape

•Homicide

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Physical abuse can result in

•Tremendous stress which impact the victim’s health an longevity,

•Very serious injuries which facilitate further intimidation and abuse, and

•Permanent disability—injuries and ongoing abuse can result in permanent

disability. There can be both physical and psychological disabilities as

outcomes.

Psychological harm includes:

•Perpetual fear of further violence which inhibits functioning.

•Learned helplessness from the emotional trauma which creates both

intellectual and emotional impairment, and

•Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which means that the victim may re-

experience, relive, the traumatic events, be numbed by the trauma, and

have an exaggerated startle response. Additional symptoms include a high

levels of emotional arousal and avoidance responses, memory loss and

cognitive confusion.

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•Jealousy and possessiveness are dangerous, especially if they don’t want

you to have friends, check up on you, and won’t accept breaking up.

•Tries to control you by being bossy, giving orders, making all of the

decisions and refusing to listen to your opinions,

•Is scary; you worry about how he will react to things you say or do,

threatens you, uses or own weapons,

•Is violent; has a history of fighting, loses temper easily and quickly, and

brags about mistreating others,

•Pressures you for sex, is forceful or scary around sex. Thinks of women as

sex objects.

•Manipulative and uses guilt to perpetuate the relationship or sexual

encounters, “If you loved me you would….,” too serious about the

relationship too fast.

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•Substance abuse increases the likelihood of domestic violence. If the

person you are going out with pressures you to use these substance, there

is an even greater likelihood of abuse,

•Blaming the victim is a strong warning sign.

•As series of bad relationships, especially when they blame the other person

for all of the problems or says that, in general, “Girls just don’t understand

me.”

•Very patriarchal or macho beliefs are a warning sign. This is especially true

if they believe that females should be passive and submissive.

•Hitting, pushing, choking, restraining, or any other type of physical abuse is

an obvious warning sign.

•Warnings about the person or concerns about your safety from family and

friends are very important warning signs.

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In addition to physical and sexual violence, and abuser may employ a variety

of techniques display their power an maintain control over their victim.

These include:

•Intimidation; instilling fear using looks, gestures, actions, smashing things,

destroying her property, abusing pets, displaying weapons,

•Emotional abuse; putting her down, making her feel bad, calling her names,

making her think she is crazy or feel guilty, humiliating her,

•Isolation; controlling her actions, including her contact with others and using

jealousy to justify the abuse,

•Minimizing, denying and blaming; making light of the abuse and not taking

her concerns seriously, shifting responsibility for the abuse, denying that it

happened or saying that the victim caused the abuse (“brought it on

herself”).

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Additional techniques of power and control include:

•Using the children against her; making her feel guilty about the children,

using the children to relay messages, using visitation to harass her,

threatening to take the children away,

•Using male privilege; treating her like a servant, making all the big

decisions, defining their roles and acting like the “boss,”

•Using economic abuse; preventing her from getting or keeping a job (or

going on with her education), making her ask for money, giving her an

allowance, not letting her know about family finances or have access to

family income,

•Using coercion and threats; making and/or carrying out threats to do

something to hurt her, threatening to leave her, to commit suicide, to report

her to welfare, making her drop charges or do illegal things.

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Abused spouses stay in the violent relationship for a variety of reasons:

These include:

•Economic reasons—they do not have the resources to leave—and, the less

money the victim has, the greater the likelihood of battering,

•Fear—statistics show that a victim is at greatest risk when they are trying to

leave the abuser and end the relationship

•Relationship reasons—the victim

•Feels a sense of commitment to the marriage,

•Believes that they can improve the relationship

•Doesn’t want to hurt the partner, the children, or perhaps their own

parents,

•Feels that they will lose the time invested in the relationship,

•Experiences intermittent rewards from the relationship,

•Fears loneliness and isolation, and

•Believes that there is a lack of social support.

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The elderly are often victims of family violence. Their vulnerability is based upon a
number of factors. One aspect of culture change that is particularly important is number of factors. One aspect of culture change that is particularly important is
that our society is becoming increasingly youth oriented. Since elders do not have
the respect and authority they once had, they are more vulnerable to abuse.
Factors which contribute to an increased likelihood of victimization include

•A decline in their physical functioning including such things as strength, eyesight,
coordination, etc.

•Increasing social and emotional isolation which results from a loss of family
members and friends and the loss of “meaningful” roles in the society. Retirement
has often been called an “empty” role in this society because we recognize the
legitimacy of the work role but do not offer respectable alternatives to this role once
a person has retired.

•Many elderly people, especially women, do not have adequate economic
resources. The less you have earned during your working years, the less likely you
are to be able to survive on the fixed income you receive after retirement.

•The ageism in our society also results in spatial isolation. This is reflected in such
things as retirement communities, life-care communities, and elderly housing. In
fact, the elderly are aware of the negative stereotypes associated with aging and
may choose to limit their outside contacts in order to avoid potential embarrassment
and/or victimization. This isolation often means that their lives are essentially
invisible to the larger society. They are, thus, much more vulnerable to abuse and
neglect by other family members.

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