NCJ Number
173259
Journal
Sociological Spectrum Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: April-June 1997 Pages: 199-222
Date Published
1997
Length
24 pages
Annotation
Data from a nationwide representative sample of 1,835 female college students in Canada were used to test various propositions about women's use of violence in dating relationships.
Abstract
A research team administered questionnaires in 95 undergraduate classes in colleges and universities throughout Canada. The sample of 1,835 women had a median age of 20 years, and most of the women were first- or second-year students. Under the research protocol, female students were asked to participate in a study on problems in male-female dating relationships. The prevalence of physical violence since leaving high school, motives for dating violence, and victimization were measured using an expanded version of the Conflict Tactics Scale. The extent of sexual abuse was measured using a version of the Sexual Experiences Survey. Questions were also asked about medical help, relationship intensity, patriarchal beliefs, and approval of dating violence. Data analysis confirmed women committed a large number of violent acts in dating relationships. Only a small percentage of women, however, reported violence caused serious injuries. A substantial amount of the violence committed by women was in self-defense. The more women had been victimized, whether physically or sexually, the more likely they were to report they had used self-defensive violence. Women with different levels of defensive violence did not differ in their sex role beliefs about or their approval of male-female dating violence. The authors believe the findings cast doubt on the argument that dating violence is fully symmetrical or mutual combat. 40 references and 8 tables