Theoretical Approaches to Domestic Violence
THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Classification of the literature about violence against women is difficult because violence against women cannot be understood in terms of a single factor. Most of the researchers focus on a few different reasons and not on a single one to explain why men use violence against women. Their arguments are sometimes so similar that even their approach is defined in different perspectives. For example, approaches by Gelles and Straus, who have many essays and research on violence against women, sometimes support the class analysis perspective and sometimes the liberal perspective. Thus, classification of the literature about male violence to females and the definition of the researchers are difficult for the reader.
2.1. Definition of violence
Violence is a popular subject for the last few years. There are different types, causes, definitions, and forms that occur at the interpersonal, collective, and global levels. It is a problem for all human relations. Therefore it should be thought of as a human rights problem because it undermines the overall quality of life for the victims. Human rights violations in the private and public spheres are interrelated, and only a new integrated approach to both violence and human rights can lead to realistic solutions to problems that otherwise seem insolvable (Eisler, 1995:163).
Violence has been pervasive throughout human history, but a few researchers (Collins 1975; Elias 1994) note that the increasing technological and bureaucratic nature of violence has made contemporary violence quite different from than in the past. A definition of violence includes relativity: What counts as violence and to whom? Which perspective should we use? Should we use the perspectives of victims or of those who perpetrate these of those who perpetrate these acts? Of researchers? Of law? They include the subjective definitions of women who experience violence, of men who perpetrate violence, and of
Classification of the literature about violence against women is difficult because violence against women cannot be understood in terms of a single factor. Most of the researchers focus on a few different reasons and not on a single one to explain why men use violence against women. Their arguments are sometimes so similar that even their approach is defined in different perspectives. For example, approaches by Gelles and Straus, who have many essays and research on violence against women, sometimes support the class analysis perspective and sometimes the liberal perspective. Thus, classification of the literature about male violence to females and the definition of the researchers are difficult for the reader.
2.1. Definition of violence
Violence is a popular subject for the last few years. There are different types, causes, definitions, and forms that occur at the interpersonal, collective, and global levels. It is a problem for all human relations. Therefore it should be thought of as a human rights problem because it undermines the overall quality of life for the victims. Human rights violations in the private and public spheres are interrelated, and only a new integrated approach to both violence and human rights can lead to realistic solutions to problems that otherwise seem insolvable (Eisler, 1995:163).
Violence has been pervasive throughout human history, but a few researchers (Collins 1975; Elias 1994) note that the increasing technological and bureaucratic nature of violence has made contemporary violence quite different from than in the past. A definition of violence includes relativity: What counts as violence and to whom? Which perspective should we use? Should we use the perspectives of victims or of those who perpetrate these of those who perpetrate these acts? Of researchers? Of law? They include the subjective definitions of women who experience violence, of men who perpetrate violence, and of