Research and Analysis
April Bittenbender
Research Paper Final Draft
November 29, 2012
Gender and Crime
Domestic Violence, Does Gender Matter?
Domestic violence has been a topic debated for decades now as one of the leading causes of crime against women, but in fact men are victims of this crime as well. The difference between domestic violence and domestic abuse is defined as, one is the physical aspect, and one is more emotional or financially based. Both men and women can be affected by both of these definitions in the right circumstances. Victimization affects both men and women regarding domestic violence, but what makes a victim, and does it differ depending on the gender? In this paper, it will discuss the studies and statistics to be found relevant to my topic. It will discuss law enforcement’s role they play in society involving this issue, along with the services attached to victimization of this crime for both genders. It will highlight the differences in types of victims of such a crime into categories. It will also give the feminist perspective and the role it plays in the criminal justice system, and a discussion as to whether it should no longer be a feminist issue as portrayed. In the research performed it has come to the attention of the researcher that domestic violence is well studied on the affects of women associated with this crime, but that men have not been afforded the same consistency. According to statistics, 85% of domestic violence happens against women in the United States (Rennison & Welchans, 2002). In a 1975 survey, information contained herein stated that wives batter their spouses on an equal scale as men (Staus, Gelles & Steinmetz, 1980). Much less is known to the public about rates against men due to the popular belief that it’s only a crime against women. It is difficult to render any concrete numbers as to how many male victims there are since most do not report. Intimate partner abuse is the common variable between
Research Paper Final Draft
November 29, 2012
Gender and Crime
Domestic Violence, Does Gender Matter?
Domestic violence has been a topic debated for decades now as one of the leading causes of crime against women, but in fact men are victims of this crime as well. The difference between domestic violence and domestic abuse is defined as, one is the physical aspect, and one is more emotional or financially based. Both men and women can be affected by both of these definitions in the right circumstances. Victimization affects both men and women regarding domestic violence, but what makes a victim, and does it differ depending on the gender? In this paper, it will discuss the studies and statistics to be found relevant to my topic. It will discuss law enforcement’s role they play in society involving this issue, along with the services attached to victimization of this crime for both genders. It will highlight the differences in types of victims of such a crime into categories. It will also give the feminist perspective and the role it plays in the criminal justice system, and a discussion as to whether it should no longer be a feminist issue as portrayed. In the research performed it has come to the attention of the researcher that domestic violence is well studied on the affects of women associated with this crime, but that men have not been afforded the same consistency. According to statistics, 85% of domestic violence happens against women in the United States (Rennison & Welchans, 2002). In a 1975 survey, information contained herein stated that wives batter their spouses on an equal scale as men (Staus, Gelles & Steinmetz, 1980). Much less is known to the public about rates against men due to the popular belief that it’s only a crime against women. It is difficult to render any concrete numbers as to how many male victims there are since most do not report. Intimate partner abuse is the common variable between
References: Morgan, A., & Freeman, M. (2009). Domestic Violence. Journal of Social Policy, 38, 539-541. Brit. J. Criminol. (2007) 47, 671-691, Advance Access Publication 14 December 2006, Evaluating Domestic Violence Initiatives. Said Pournaghash-Tehrani , Zahra Feizabadi ,Journal of Applied Sciences, 12/2007, 7, ( 14), pp. 1930 – 1935,Comparing Demographic Characteristics of Male Victims of Domestic Violence. Barber CF (2008) Domestic violence against men. Nursing Standard. 22, 51, 35-39. Caroletta, A. S. (2010). Male victims of intimate partner violence in the United States: An examination of the review of literature through the critical theoretical perspective. International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 5(1), 163-173. Berns, Nancy, (2004)Ann Russo, Violence against Women 2006 12: 116, Framing the victim: Domestic violence, media, and social problems.