Feminist Theories Of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is an issue that most individuals tend to avoid or simply do not understand. According to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV, 2015) In the United States there are approximately 10 million victims of domestic violence each year. Out of the 10 million victim’s women tend to have higher rates of domestic violence that 1 in 5 women have been physical abused by their intimate partner. However, Domestic violence can either be physical or mental that on individual inflicts on to another. Victims of domestic often do not realize they are being abused. Even though women have a higher rate of being abused, domestic violence can affect anyone including men. The NCADV have reported that 1 in 7 men have been victims of

However, until recently theories have emerged to explain the cause of domestic violence. For example, the Feminist theory states that women are perceived as objects that men can use. This theory emerged out of the 19th century during the feminist movement when women fought for equal rights. Feminist use notion of patriarchy to explain the gender inequality that exist among men and women. Most often children are negatively affected by domestic violence. The Social Learning theory developed by Albert Bandura argues that all actions are learned. Children learn to mimic the same actions of their parental figures. Using the social learning and feminist theories to explain some of the cause of domestic violence (Social Learning Theory and Feminist Theory are a couple of ideas that explain domestic violence). Children are ultimately the ones that are negatively affected by domestic violence. Throughout this paper it will take a closer look at children witnessing violence and gender

Based on the authors’ research they proved that if children witness violence from their father it greatly affects their mental behavior. Children are not fully capable to mentally process violence especial when they see their father hit their mother. However, if the mothers manage leave their abuser, and unfortunately cohabitates with another abuser it would further confuse the child. In relation to the Social Learning Theory children that witness their fathers, or father figure, being abusive, will eventual come to realize violence is normal. Therefore having multiple father figures further damages the child’s behavior in thinking that violence is normal. Although Israel and Server article focus on the emotional effect like PTSD and low self-esteem. Children are placed at a much higher risk of becoming future batterers when they see violence as