NCJ Number
237074
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2008 Pages: 834-852
Date Published
June 2008
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article discusses an imbalance theory to explain physical violence against women in intimate relationships in South Africa.
Abstract
The theory proposes four typologies: dependence, compensation, submission, and transgression, through which imbalances in resource contribution and power distribution between spouses are hypothesized to contribute to violence. The dependence hypothesis suggests that economic dependence of the wife will lead to more violence. The compensation hypothesis argues that the husband will use force to compensate for his inability to live up to the male-provider norm. The submission hypothesis suggests that violence will increase due to the submission of women in male-dominated families. Finally, the transgression hypothesis argues that men in female-dominated families will use force to punish their wives for supposedly transgressing the gender norm of male dominance. Empirical evidence provided some support for the dependence, submission, and transgression hypotheses. (Published Abstract)