NCJ Number
211270
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 10 Issue: 6 Dated: September-October 2005 Pages: 680-714
Date Published
September 2005
Length
35 pages
Annotation
In this paper, literature on the feminist theory of intimate violence is critically reviewed as a result of new data from numerous incidence studies reporting levels of violence by female perpetrators higher than those reported for males, with particular reference made to the Conflict Tactics Scale.
Abstract
Family violence received heightened attention as a serious social problem in the early 1970s with research findings indicating family violence to be more prevalent. This, in turn, promoted more aggressive arrest policies to address the problem. Subsequently, shelter houses for female victims, as well as mandatory treatment for male perpetrators became routine. As a result, research was based on female victims and male perpetrators and the notion evolved that spouse assault was exclusively male perpetrated, and if there was female intimate violence, it was defensive or unimportant. Feminist theory of intimate violence which is the feminist paradigm supporting the notion that domestic violence is primarily a culturally supported male enterprise and that female violence is always defensive and reactive, is critically reviewed in this paper in the light of data from numerous incidence studies reporting levels of violence by female perpetrators higher than those previously reported. Additionally, a critical analysis of the methodology of these studies is made, referencing the Conflict Tactics Scale developed and utilized by Straus and his colleagues. What studies have found are high levels of unilateral intimate violence by females to both males and females. It is concluded that feminist theory is contradicted. Yet, a paradigm has developed that precludes the notion of female violence, trivializes injuries to males, and maintains a monolithic view of a complex social problem. Tables, references