NCJ Number
108740
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1987) Pages: 291-301
Date Published
1987
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper presents a theoretical account of family violence in terms of antagonistic elements in culture and society that serve to irritate family relationships.
Abstract
Based on an integration of conflict theory with feminist and economic theory, it is argued that there exists a culture predisposed to the advocacy of pragmatic violence that serves as an interpretive umbrella for members of the society. The norms of this culture are transmitted through socialization practices largely within the family. This tendency to use violence 'as necessary' is embodied in an ideology kept salient by the relationship between the economic classes: the economy finds threats of violence beneficial to the social system's goals. In addition, women in this system have been uniformly subordinated to their husbands, creating a class of potential victims. Given this, change in levels of family violence will require cultural change. This goal is to reduce the amount of social stress produced by economic flux and to devalue violence as an appropriate response to stress. While moves toward greater economic equality between the genders should help reduce violence, violence will continue so long as culture rewards male aggression and encourages ritual violence as a response to threats in social situations. 36 references. (Author abstract modified)