Exploring Domestic Abuse: Gender, Family Violence, and Impact Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of domestic abuse, focusing on its dynamics within the context of gender and family violence. It examines the complexities of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and the impact of abuse on individuals, considering factors such as gender and sexual orientation. The report explores coping strategies, myths, and the role of coercive control, alongside practical considerations for practitioners, including assessment questions and stages of change. Through case studies and reflective exercises, the report highlights the importance of understanding the diverse experiences of victims and perpetrators, including issues of sexual violence, and offers insights into intervention strategies, including motivational interviewing, and professional self-care. The report underscores the importance of addressing the underlying social inequities that contribute to domestic abuse and provides practical tools for assessment and intervention.

Understanding
Domestic Abuse within
the context of Gender
and Family Violence

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Q1: Dynamics of domestic abuse................................................................................................3
Q2: Domestic abuse and gender..................................................................................................4
Q3: Impact of domestic abuse.....................................................................................................5
Q4: Coping Strategies..................................................................................................................6
Q5: Sexual Violence....................................................................................................................7
Q6: Assessment of dynamics of abuse and typologies of violence.............................................7
Q7: Stages of change and motivational interviewing..................................................................8
Q8: Motivational Interview: Reflections on Practice.................................................................9
Q9: Diversity and Barriers to Disclosure or Seeking Support...................................................10
Q10: Diversity and Local Services............................................................................................10
Q11: Honour Based Violence....................................................................................................11
Q12: Vicarious Trauma.............................................................................................................12
Q13: Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care......................................................................................13
Q14: Lone working policy.........................................................................................................14
Q15 Case Study.........................................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15
REFERNCES.................................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Domestic violence is a gendered crime that stems from social inequity. Gender-based violence is
a form of it. Multiple cases of rape, various forms of domestic abuse (intimate partner violence,
sexual harassment, and stalking), and sexual violence are all more common in women than in
men. Domestic violence may affect any woman, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality,
class, or disability; however, some women who are subjected to other types of oppression and
prejudice may face additional challenges in reporting abuse and seeking support. Domestic abuse
is a type of violence towards women and girls that involves various types of family violence such
as forced marriage, violence against women, etc. and "honour offences," which are mainly
committed by family members, and sometimes involve numerous different perpetrators (Lilley-
Walker and et. al., 2018). The aim of this report is to gain a better understanding of domestic
violence in the sense of gender and family violence.
MAIN BODY
Q1: Dynamics of domestic abuse.
Case scenario
Jenny's daughter Carly is six months old. David, her husband, has assaulted her. Jenny has
told the health visitor that it was the first time David has ever hurt her, and they are all surprised.
They are both so stressed that Carly doesn't sleep well and cries often. Her husband has been
trying to help her cope since the baby was born, but his work is very demanding, and tempers are
frayed. When the beating occurred, she was terrified; he just appeared to lose it and shook her
and punched her in the chest.
a) Initial thoughts about what might be happening here?
In the case of jenny, her husband might have stressful days at work and could not
have handled it and took all of it out on his wife in from of his child. The work pressure
seems so strong that the husband did not knew that his anger would result into assault.
This reason do not provide any justification to the act done by David as the assault was
wrong (D’Amore and et. al., 2018).
b) Key things to consider and complete when meeting Jenny in order to help assess
what is happening?

A useful question is to be considered by the assessor to help in making assessment
to what exactly is happening, which is- “who is doing what to whom and with what
effect?” this question will help in assessing that who did something to whom and what
was the effect of such a thing upon that person.
c) In what ways is David displaying/not displaying characteristics of a perpetrator of
intimate terrorism?
Intimate terrorism perpetrators can constantly criticize, dismiss, and humiliate
their partners. It is impossible for a client to have a positive self-perception if they are
made to feel worthless, ugly, and insane. Victims with low self-esteem may believe they
deserve to be abused, limiting their desire to see themselves as deserving of better care.
Therefore, David is not displaying any characteristics of a perpetrator of intimate
terrorism.
Q2: Domestic abuse and gender
a) How the statistics for domestic abuse differ according to gender.
According to Johnson's survey, the vast majority of those who engage in intimate
terrorism (97 percent) are men, while 96 percent of those who engage in violent
resistance are women. He discovered that when it came to situational couple crime, the
gender distribution was more balanced, with females being named as the victim in 44
percent of the cases studied (Collins and et. al., 2018).
b) Provide at least 3 things that needs to be considered when assessing a case where the
person initially presenting as the victim of the abuse is male.
1. Empathy is described as the ability to put oneself in another person's shoes. This
enables the professional to gain an emotional and intellectual understanding of the
client's perspective on the functional and emotional obstacles to change and
improvement.
2. A practitioner is genuinely concerned with the client's well-being and expresses this
to them. Listening carefully to consider the client's particular situation and letting
them know that you hear them is one way to communicate sincere concern (Enarson,
Fothergill and Peek, 2018).
3. It is important to be objective and provide honest details when forming a relationship.
If you don't know the answer to a question, be frank about it and say you'll look into

it. Don't get your hopes up, and be realistic about the programs and commitments you
can make.
c) Importance of carefully assessing and considering the dynamics of the abuse in all
new referrals.
Domestic abuse offenders come from a wide range of backgrounds, which must
be recognized (McQuigg, 2017). Thorough evaluation is the secret to figuring out the
complexities of possible violence within a family. Johnson's typology of violence
clarifies what needs to be addressed, and it can affect how clients are supported and what
knowledge is exchanged with other programs.
d) Demonstrates the ways a victim of abuse might respond to questions and how this
might differ from the responses of a perpetrator.
The victim upon being asked of the questions, generally respond to them while
reliving that particular moment as it all starts to come fresh to their memories. On the
other hand, perpetrator, upon being asked questions on abuse being committed by him,
blames the other person or starts showing anger on the person asking them. The reaction
of both the parties are very different which also helps in drawing conclusions (Dowling,
2018).
Q3: Impact of domestic abuse
a) Reflect on 2 different clients/service users on the differing ways domestic abuse has
impacted on them and their lives.
Client 1: A guy responded horribly when client told him she was bisexual,
making it all about him and implying that she was planning to cheat on him with women.
Client 2: A man was subjected to domestic violence by his partner, who
threatened to kill herself if he left her. She also hurt herself on many occasions, blaming
him for attacking her in front of friends and relatives.
b) How might this impact of domestic abuse differ according to the gender or sexual
orientation of the person and if they are experiencing it or perpetrating it?
Impact on client 1: Her identity became a source of guilt to herself, as well as a
part of herself that she had to conceal in order to make him feel bigger and more
significant. She lost all confidence in herself and underestimated herself.

Impact on client 2: The man was always worried that his wife would get him into
serious trouble. He became mentally weakened and experienced trauma as well as other
mental illnesses.
Q4: Coping Strategies
a) Coping strategies that someone might develop when living with domestic abuse.
1. Denial: This technique aids the individual in avoiding feelings of fear and
embarrassment.
2. Dissociation and shock: to stop coping with strong emotions
3. Drugs and alcohol: to forget the feelings and gain some distraction
b) 3 myths that might be perpetuated either by those perpetrating abuse or society that
minimise or justify abuse.
1) Any event involving LGBT+ individuals must be cooperative and cannot be about
power and control. When a victim of violence has used aggressive resistance, this
is often believed incorrectly (McGirr and Sullivan, 2017).
2) When violence occurs, both the victim and the perpetrator will act out their
gender roles and will be recognized as such (i.e. the smaller, more effeminate and
the bigger, more masculine partner).
3) If LGBT+ domestic violence victims want to leave, they should. (For example,
they are assumed to be more financially independent because they do not have
children.)
c) How a perpetrator of coercive control might use these coping strategies or myths to
justify their behaviour.
The perpetrator often justify their behaviour by taking advantage of the myths and
coping strategies. The most used advantage is of drugs and alcohol. This way they justify
their behaviour that they have no control and had no knowledge of the act being
committed by them (Morgan and Simons, 2018). This helps them to seek benefit and
justify their behaviour which is misleading.
d) How might these myths and attitudes influence the practitioner’s professional
judgements/assessment process?
Myths and the influencing attitude badly affect the process of assessment as these
myths create problems in drawing up conclusions also raise questions upon the certainty

of the event or abuse which took place. This creates confusion in many of the
investigation and assessment process.
Q5: Sexual Violence
a) Range of behaviour that may be defined by the term 'sexual abuse'.
1) Threats or force used to gain sex
2) Rape and other forms of serious sexual assault.
3) Intentionally inflicting pain during sex.
4) Prostitution that is compelled (Franchino-Olsen, 2021).
5) Intentional transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS.
b) Consent to sexual intercourse
Only if a person agrees to vaginal, anal, or oral penetration by preference and has
the right and capacity to do so, is that person considered consented. Consent to sexual
activity can be granted to one type of sexual activity but not to another. Consent may be
revoked at any point during sexual intercourse, as well as each time it takes place.
c) Reflect on two clients/service users that you have worked with who experienced
sexual abuse by their partner.
Client 1: She was raped by her ex-partner to get aroused sexually. But now after
he left her, she considers it as not rape and think of more ways to get him back as she
loves him.
In this situation, girl needs to understand the meaning of love and rape and must
go for counselling.
Client 2: Husband after coming back home, often rapes his wife and abuse her to
vent his frustration out of work on her. This helps in releasing his tensions but has caused
trauma to the wife and has affected her badly.
In this situation, the wife needs to seek help before it gets too late as living in such
a hell is both physical and mental abuse (O’Leary and et. al., 2018).
Q6: Assessment of dynamics of abuse and typologies of violence
a) Questions about the relationship.
1) What prompted you to reach out to us?
2) What is the best way to explain your relationship?
3) Is this a recent occurrence, or have similar events occurred previously?

b) Questions about abusive tactics.
1. What types of disagreements do you and your spouse have?
2. When and where do disagreements occur?
3. Is there any evidence of physical violence?
c) Questions about behaviour and patterns of control.
1. How do you make decisions in a relationship?
2. If there are disputes, how are they resolved?
3. Do you have a fear of your partner?
Q7: Stages of change and motivational interviewing
Case scenario
You work on a perpetrator program, and you're referred to David following three more
cases, one of which included Jenny holding Carly. Jenny reported the last incident to the police,
and the case is now being heard at MARAC (Speed, 2019). Jenny is drinking heavily, according
to David, who is very forthright about what has been going on. Since the birth of the baby, she
hasn't been coping, and this is putting a burden on all of us. He is worried about Jenny, but he is
also aware that he is losing his cool and is concerned about himself. He claims that he can only
bear so much.
a) What stage of change do you consider David to be at? Please explain why you
believe him to be at this stage.
David currently is at the preparation stage of the Prochaska and DiClemente’s
Stages of Change. This is as, David is trying to seek support but he do not actually know
that what he needs to do in such a situation. He has already accepted the facts and
realised his doings but is unaware of his next step as he is clueless (Logan and Walker,
2018).
b) List at least 5 examples of Motivational Interviewing questions that you might ask
David. Explain what you would hope to achieve with these questions.
1) What alternatives have you considered?
2) Have you recently experimented with any options?
3) What kind of help do you have?
4) What steps would you take to bring your ideas into action?
5) What if your idea turns to be completely wrong?

These questions will help in assessing whether David is thinking correctly or not.
This will also help in analysing the mind frame of him and zeal to take forward his
relationship in a smoothly manner.
Q8: Motivational Interview: Reflections on Practice
Introduction to the Situation
The client named David visited and I appreciate that it took lot of courage for him to discuss
about his drinking problems. He told that one day while he was drunk and was stressed because
of job, hit her wife. It was the first time he raised the hand on his wife and was frightened when
assault happened. He seem devastated after the incident as his wife felt that once the violence
started, it becomes harder to go.
Questions Asked
1) What do you think you want to do about your drinking?
2) Tell me about the last time you drink?
3) Do you care about your health?
4) Tell me what is most important in your life at this moment, drinking or wife?
5) What concerns you about your job?
6) Any such close incident happened during the past days?
Reflective Statements
The reflective statements made are as follows-
As many people enjoy the effects of alcohol but it is helpful to you after to unwind stressful day
at job and interact with your family when you are not self-conscious (Bernardo and Estrellado,
2017). This is not helping you in lowering your stress rather drinking is adversely impacting your
health. No doubt your act made your wife feel worrying but drinking problems will involve
whole family. Real problems need to be dealt consciously.
How questions are related to the theory
The questions will help to know the deep roots of the problems. These help to gather the
information of the client and know their concerns effectively. Mainly they are beneficial in
evoking client’s morale for change. These questions build on optimistic and humanistic theories
which will help the client to change through self-actualisation process.
How to improve motivational interviewing skills
 Avoid debates and arguments

 Express more empathy through reflective statements
 Not to force or oppose clients
 Support client self-actualisation process
Q9: Diversity and Barriers to Disclosure or Seeking Support
Asylum Seekers are considered as diverse group. They are the part of social group and
referred as someone who seek international protection as their status as refugees are not
determined. The asylum seeker are adopting strategies in order to access services such as self-
censorship to avoid being discriminated on basis of diverse identity. These social group are
seeking self-protection by choosing not to disclose their identity (Duke and Searby, 2019).
Generally most of them are from the conflicting countries. The barriers faced by social group
causes traumatising effect accompanied by physical and mental damages. Some of the potential
barriers are discussed below:
 Racial Discrimination: Most of them face racial discrimination, because of such disparity
the asylum seeker in United Kingdom conceal their identity in order to avoid racist
attacks. Racial discrimination is further triggered in such manner that these social groups
are taking defensive measures.
 Social Isolation: People seeking asylum in UK are not disclosing their true identity in
public places. The asylum seeker are adopting strategies one of it is social isolation in
order to avoid being discriminated. Thus not able to engage with the process of
motivational and protection services.
 This stop and search practice is highlighting more in these days as these are practiced
against the people from diverse group (Dim and Ogunye, 2021). Police is becoming
irrational and causing discriminating practices in respect of asylum seekers without any
reasonable suspicion. Thus, causing mistrust in the minds of asylum seekers towards
others and criminal legal system.
Q10: Diversity and Local Services
The service agencies in local area for clients to meet their needs that relate to diversity are
SafeLives
They are UK wide charity that deals with the ending domestic abuse for everyone.
Further it is important to protect young person. They are protected by the child protection
legislation until they are underage. Refer to Ypva and Children’s Social Care (CSC)

 Young People aged 13-15: Referral to children’s social care
 Young people aged 16-17: assessed using adaption of the Young people’s Version.
Refugee and residential services
This is provision for to support refuges and asylum seekers who have fled from their
country of origin. The practitioner will refer victims of abuse where risk can be assessed properly
such as Idva or Outreach support.
Q11: Honour Based Violence
Definition
Honour Based Violence: It means crime or incident happened while protecting or
defending the honour of the family or community. These practices are used to control the
behaviour of family in order to protect the honour, cultural and beliefs.
Forced Marriage: It is defined by the Government, 2010 as marriage resultant from
duress which includes physical, financial, sexual, mental and emotional pressure. Absence of
consent to the marriage by one or both spouses (Russo and et. al., 2019).
Female Genital Mutilation: It is referred as cutting of female genital and is the ritual
practiced in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and within communities. The ritual led to the
cutting of external female genital organs which comprises of the clitoris, pudendum and the
female urethra. Even partial removal or other injury to the female genitalia for non-medical
reasons is also considered as the female genital mutilation.
Practical points to keep a client safe who is experiencing Honour Based Violence
 It is important to focus on the need to respond expeditiously in order to provide
protection and not make assumptions.
 Confidentiality and offering safe routes help to overcome the fears of clients in these
cases. As fear may led to isolation, upsetting community or family members, or
inheritance of abusive behaviour.
 Identify the potential risk and access what culture and system issues affects their safety
most probably. Potential risk can be evaluated by establishing the role of other family
members in the situation.
Things to consider when working with interpreters in domestic abuse cases
 Paramount is the confidentiality policies and thus, need to be clear and explicit.

 While working with the interpreter it is required to look at the client rather than
interpreter as it avoids the client pressure of having private conversation with the
interpreter only.
 It need to be considered that the interpreter is not related to the accused and thus, required
to check information related to interpreter.
Q12: Vicarious Trauma
Analyse the difference between Vicarious Trauma and Burnout
Vicarious Trauma (VT) is psychological term which means short and term effects of
working with trauma survivors and victims. Whereas, burn out refers to as stress experienced by
someone from powerless, unsatisfied and overwhelmed work. No one is immune as every
working individual goes through this stage. The basic difference is VT happens through indirect
way by working with others and Burnout consequences happens directly leading to symptoms
like Post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), anxiety. Burnout can be overcome by changing jobs,
provides immediate relief (Kimber and et. al., 2018). This is not the case for VT as it takes time
to heal and evident between personal and professional lives.
Vicarious Traumatisation causes following impact on the sufferer:-
 Nightmares, flashbacks of traumatic events suffered, relating everything with the event.
 Inheritance of negative changes in way of looking the world
 Loss of safety, beliefs, faith and others which may cause adverse effect in personal life.
 Effect on psychological needs
Illustration of Vicarious Traumatisation by the following hypothetical example, discussed
below
Mr John worked as an administrative assistant to a parole officer and is required to read
the files related to violent sex offenders. He was secondarily traumatised and disturbed deeply by
reading such files. This affected his personal life as he started feeling insecure about safety of his
children and even his sex life got affected. He started looking others with unreasonable suspicion
and deeply exhausted while interacting with others. Further realises that his core beliefs in
integrity and honesty towards the world have shifted as a result of his work.
Q13: Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care
Advice to new colleagues promote good self-care in practice

 To undertake personal strategies such as balance between personal and professional lives,
self-nurturing, self-care and others.
 Put forward the issue to respective manager and discuss strategies.
 The work related strategies are highly effective in minimising the effects of vicarious
trauma.
 Provide the new colleagues with the assistance to access support if required along with
the appropriate information.
 Approach any staff member in confidential and effective manner. Such can be done
through supervision meeting.
What can organisation do to promote good self-care and prevent vicarious trauma
 Ensure effective provisions related to ongoing clinical supervision
 Create an environment to support its workers by making them participate in non-
judgemental discussion on issues related to vicarious traumatisation.
 To provide space to take break from the working day so as to meditate and regain
strategies to avoid the impact of VT (Cho and et. al., 2020).
 Supportive and open work culture for the issues of VT experiencing by workers.
 Flexibility in the work by lessening the burden of workloads.
 Providing effective access to the confidential and professional staff services as to cope up
with the effects of VT.
The risks involved due to the absence of above measures
 Widespread attitude of suspicion with the belief that the people are acting out of their
self-interest.
 Reduction in level of productivity due to decrease in the level of motivation.
 The morale of the staff might decrease which will ultimately effect the organisation in
achieving desired goals.
 The effect of vicarious traumatisation on worker as well on organisation remains for long
term if not recognised or addressed properly.
 It may led the violation of ethical practices or boundary set by the organisation.
 Increase short term and long term level of distress as the absence of strategy may trigger
the impact of VT.

Q14: Lone working policy
Considerations when lone working, that pose a risk to the personal safety of the
practitioner in the domestic abuse field
Consider the safety implications while meeting a client especially visiting their home. The risk
assessment is the first step in deciding whether measures need to be taken in order to protect staff
from harm (Gage and Thomas, 2017). This will provide an indication in respect of doing work
safely. Further such assessment must be carried out by the competent persons and to be
communicated in an appropriate staff during the performance of their work. Factors to be
considered while carrying out the risk assessment are as follows:-
 Safe way in or out for person
 Can risk be controlled by single person
 Person medically fit and suitable to work alone
 Training is needed to make worker competent
Q15 Case Study
1) It is important to assess the dynamics of domestic abuse in the relationship as it can lead
to negative consequences such as depression, traumatising effects. Generally domestic
abuse occurs in intimate relationships where perpetrator and victim are currently or
formerly dating, in a living relationship, married or divorced.
2) Hypothetically, Sam is making up the story according to his own version and misleading
the facts of the case by alleging Chris on basis of unreasonable suspicion and mere
assumptions.
3) How the heat of argument started? Who initiated first?
4) The questions need to be asked-
a. On what basis of argument your act lead to domestic violence?
b. Whether the alleged statement by the Sam is true or not?
5) The potential clients may seek help and support from social workers, practitioner, multi-
agency, Idva, SafeLives (Eves, 2019).

CONCLUSION
The report concluded questions related to domestic abuse accompanied by its dynamics,
types and strategies. Further report has discussed the motivational interview and barriers in
respect of the diverse group. The report illustrated various case study to evaluate the dynamics of
domestic abuse. The answers to the questions are provided in an effective and efficient manner.
The meaning of domestic violence in context with gender and family violence is examined in the
above report.

REFERNCES
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