Being Stirred To Much Unquietness By Susan Amussen Summary

771 Words2 Pages

The systemic political and social issue of domestic violence has been combatted with the introduction of women's organisations and campaigns, putting in place social support for victims as well as influencing government legislation and policy. Erin Pizzey's instigation of the first domestic violence shelter influenced global politics, forcing the issue to be at the forefront of new legal policy. Susan Amussen composed her piece "Being stirred to much unquietness": Violence and Domestic Violence in Early Modern England, to account for how society perceives domestic violence in modern day contemporary England; analysing attitudes surrounding the violence and immediate and sequela responses. There is a moral economy of violence. Amussen, 1994 …show more content…

In addition to the bilateral viewpoints of the courts and church, the 1600s saw mass instigation of state violence: public executions, mutilations, whippings, or the most common, the stocks, where violence was rendered by bystanders registering verbal abuse and physical attacks. The nature of family was redefined again in the 1800s due to the decline of open social conflict and women were forced to rely on an ideology of individual respect and love for their protection (Amussen, 1994 p.84). In turn, this increased the frequency of violence and restricted support to the 'battered housewife'. Amussen amalgamates the historical circumstances that created such desperation for Erin Pizzey's 1970 movement, contextualising the social sphere of contemporary London. Australia's political history of domestic violence was largely influenced by British society, as discussed by James Mortensen as he evaluates the modern phrase 'domestic …show more content…

Mortensen places emphasis on the appropriation and imitation of language (Mortensen, 2023) stating that meaning is integral and the phrase 'domestic violence' has facilitated academia and policy in support of victims throughout Australia. Pizzey's influence is directly quoted in Mortenson's journal, however her assistance in redefining domestic violence was essential to society's acceptance. Armine Ishkanian discusses England's neoliberal civil society, examining the negative effect of public spending cuts on the independence and ability of women's organisations to engage in progressive policy shaping (Ishkanian, 2014). Ishkanian denotes the value of public spending on domestic violence, allowing women's campaigns and organisations to focus on human rights and gender equality issues which have shifted due to the policies of the 'Big Society' agenda

Open Document