HSRV103 Essay 2 – Domestic and Family Violence

Barnaby Jackson

Student Number: 22653218

Violence is a complex term that varies depending on factors such as socioeconomic status and
cultural structures, understanding these factors helps us to understand and define violence.
Domestic and family violence occurs when one person in an intimate, family, or personal
relationship uses violence to maintain power, authority, and control over the other person.
This violence does not always mean physical violence/abuse it comes in many forms such as
physiological, verbal, sexual and emotional abuse. It is important to note structural factors to
help understand the reason for it, as well as the prevalence of DFV. In this essay, I'll talk
about domestic and family violence with a focus on intimate partner violence and look at how
analysing important structures such as socio-economic and cultural, could benefit our
understanding of IPV.

Structural violence is differentiated from personal violence and refers to preventable harm or
damage to persons where no actor is committing the violence or where it is not practical to
search for the actor(s); such violence emerges from the unequal distribution of power and
resources or, in other words, is said to be built into the structure(s)”, Weigert, (2008). This
form of violence arises from the unequal distribution of power and resources withing societal
structures. Structural violence highlights how systematic inequalities and power imbalances
can lead to harm and suffering even in the absence of direct, intentional acts of violence. It is
preventable indirect violence, which is not necessarily a physical action. However, it is more
about political, social, and economic harm when there is not necessarily a single direct
perpetrator. It is where a person or a group of people through economic, political, or cultural
means interact to prevent victims from experiencing the full quality of life that causes
structural violence, Lee, (2009). It is where social structures and institutions prevent
individuals or groups from getting their basic needs, reaching their potential, and access to
resources and opportunities. Socio-economic structure is how resources such as wealth,
educations and employment are distributed within society. When it comes to structural
violence these structures may sustain inequalities by favouring certain groups or individuals
while disadvantaging others. Poverty is also another way of showing socio-economic
structures that have failed to provide proper access to resources and opportunities. When
groups or individuals are caught in cycles of poverty due to systemic issues, structural
violence can appear as harm and suffering. Cultural structures are shown through norms and
values that can either reinforce or challenge structural violence. For instance, cultural norms
that normalise unequal power dynamics between men and women might promote gender-
based violence. Cultural structures can also contribute to structural violence by stigmatizing
or discriminating against certain groups in society based on factors like race, ethnicity,
religion, or sexual orientation. This can lead to groups or individuals being treated unequally.
Cultural beliefs and practices can reinforce social hierarchies, which can be a source of
structural violence. Socio-economic and cultural structures are integrated into this idea of
structural violence due to the way they shaped the distribution of resources and power in
society which then influences the norm and values that either reinforce or challenge those
inequalities. It is when these structures lead to preventable harm due to their inherent
inequalities, it then can be described as a form of structural violence.

Domestic and family violence (DFV) contains a wide range of abusive behaviours that occurs
within familial or intimate relationships. There are many labels thrown around including
domestic violence, family violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV), may be used
interchangeably to describe similar behaviours, although they may refer to slightly different
aspects of violence depending on the context. Domestic and family violence is understood as
a gendered phenomenon that primarily affects women and children, though it is not limited to
male-to-female perpetration. DFV includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and
economic forms of abuse. Moreover, it encompasses behaviours intended to intimidate,
control, or manipulate family members, partners, or former partners, as highlighted by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).” Meyer, S., & Frost, A. (2019).
Intimate partner is a crime encompassing physical, psychological, financial, emotional, and
sexual abuse by a current or former partner according to Pocock, M., Jackson, D., &
Bradbury-Jones, C. (2020). IPV refers to any behaviour within an intimate relationship that
causes physical, psychological, or sexual harm to those in said relationship. Such behaviour
may include acts of aggression, psychological abuse, forced intercourse, and various
controlling behaviours such as monitoring their movements, isolating a person from their
friends and family, and restricting their access to assistance or information.
I have chosen to concentrate on intimate partner violence against women to demonstrate the
structural explanations for DFV. Two structural factors that show IPV towards women are
socio-economic and cultural structures that include patriarchy, hegemonic masculinity and
the construct/narratives around heterosexual love. In Pocock, M., Jackson, D., & Bradbury-
Jones, C. (2019) they mention how in romantic relationships power dynamics play an
important role and how this can escalate to be harmful which can lead to IPV. Many women
in abusive relationships might not initially recognize the harm caused by the increase in the
power and control shown by their partners. Jealousy is a frequent early indicator of abusive
power relations, which some women interpret as a protective instinct rather than a threat.
Mentioned in the article, there was an instance where a participant mentions moving in with
her controlling partner at a young age and finding his possessiveness flattering. The isolating
behaviour of abusers often leads women to become disconnected from their family and
friends. They may willingly comply with their partner's demands, not recognizing it as abuse.
As a result, they feel they have no one else to turn to, as illustrated by one participant who
described her partner as her "rock" due to her isolation. Fear is a huge factor that keeps
women in their abusive relationships. The fear of being alone and for their safety is
constantly a major concern for women experiencing IPV. Those fears are so deeply rooted in
them and contribute significantly to their reluctance to leave their abusive partners. It is the
fear of being isolated and their belief that their abuser is their only source of supports can
further trap women into these abusive relationships as a lot of the time they have been
isolated from their friends and family and only have their partner left to support them. The
described dynamics of power and control in romantic relationships and the resulting
challenges faced by women in abusive situations are intrinsically linked to socio-economic
and cultural structures. Socio-economic disparities can limit women's options for leaving
abusive partners, as financial dependence and lack of resources can create barriers to
independence. Cultural norms and gender expectations can also play a role, as some societies
may tolerate or even condone controlling behaviour in relationships. These structures can
reinforce power imbalances and contribute to the persistence of IPV, making it vital to
address these broader societal factors in efforts to combat such violence.

The wage gap between partners more so in heterosexual relationships can be a significant
factor that leads to asymmetric power and influence a woman’s ability to leave an abusive
relationship. In Aizer (2010) suggest that increased employment for either gender reduces
domestic violence by decreasing the time partners spend together. Sociological literature
introduces the concept of "male backlash," meaning as women gains financial independence,
violence against them may increase to restore male dominance. However, this theory
overlooks women's rational constraints in abusive relationships, as increased income often
leads to partnership termination if abuse persists. Aizer (2010) mentions this Nash bargaining
model incorporating violence, proving that women with greater relative incomes have more
negotiating power, which lowers the level of violence. It emphasises how lowering domestic
violence, even when women aren't employed, depends on relative labour market
circumstances for women rather than just their absolute salaries. Aizer’s article shows how
the exchange between socio-economic and cultural structures in the context of domestic
violence. The wage gap between partners, particularly in heterosexual relationships, reflects a
socio-economic structure that can lead to power imbalances. The concept of "male backlash"
highlights a cultural norm of male dominance and female dependence, adding to violence
when this norm is challenged by women's financial independence. This however overlooks
the rational constraints women face in abusive relationships, highlighting the importance of
understanding individual circumstances. Aizer's Nash bargaining model demonstrates how
socio-economic factors, specifically women's relative incomes and labour market conditions,
influence the power dynamics within relationships, emphasizing the significance of these
structures in addressing domestic violence.

To conclude, violence is a complex issue shaped by socio-economic and cultural structures.

Domestic and family violence (DFV), including intimate partner violence (IPV), is
influenced by structural violence rooted in power imbalances and resource disparities. Socio-
economic structures determine resource allocation and perpetuate inequalities. Cultural norms
and values either challenge or reinforce structural violence, often normalizing unequal power
dynamics. IPV illustrates the interplay of these structures, particularly in romantic
relationships. Initially, women may misinterpret power and control as protective rather than
harmful, influenced by societal norms. Abusers' isolating tactics further highlight how socio-
economic disparities can hinder women from leaving abusive situations. Fears rooted in
cultural influences significantly contribute to women's reluctance to leave abusive partners.
The wage gap in heterosexual relationships underlines socio-economic disparities and their
role in power imbalances. The concept of "male backlash" reflects cultural norms but
overlooks women's rational constraints. Aizer's Nash bargaining model emphasizes the need
to address domestic violence through improving women's relative incomes and labour market
conditions. Combating DFV requires a comprehensive approach addressing both structural
inequalities and cultural norms to empower individuals and dismantle violence-perpetuating
structures.
References

Aizer, A. (2010). The Gender Wage Gap and Domestic Violence. The American Economic
Review, 100(4), 1847–1859. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27871277

Intimate partner violence | New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse. (n.d.).

Www.nzfvc.org.nz. https://www.nzfvc.org.nz/intimate-partner-violence

Lee, B. X. (2009). Violence: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Causes, Consequences, and

Cures (pp. 123-124). Wiley.

Meyer, S., & Frost, A. (2019). Domestic and Family Violence: A Critical Introduction to
Knowledge and Practice (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315148281

Pocock, M., Jackson, D., & Bradbury-Jones, C. (2019). Intimate partner violence and the
power of love: A qualitative systematic review. Health Care for Women
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What is domestic and family violence? Respect Respectful Relationships Education for
Queensland Schools. (n.d.). https://education.qld.gov.au/parents/community-
engagement/Documents/rre-what-is-dfv.pdf

Weigert, K. M. (2008). Structural Violence. Encyclopaedia of Violence, Peace, & Conflict

(Second Edition), 2004-2011.