Domestic violence

• Definition


  any kind of violence that takes place within an intimate/family type relationship and forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour
• Mirlees-Black


  most victims are women (1 in 4 women)

  99% committed by men
• Yearnshire


  on average women suffer 35 assults before reporting to police
• Cheal 


  police unwilling to investigate

  > make assumptions that family is private is good so ignore the dark. “women able to leave if wanted
• Dobash and Dobash (radical explanation)


  unstructured interviews

  > set off by what a husband saw as a challenge to his authority
• Millet and Firestone (radical explanation)


  men use violence as a threat

  male domination (police)
• Wilkinson (material explanation)


  result of stress caused by inequality

  lack of money restricts social circles and support networks