Domestic Violence and Women's Resilience: An Australian Study

This essay explores the multifaceted issue of domestic violence against women, focusing on the Australian context. It begins by defining domestic violence and its various forms, highlighting the increasing rates in Australia. The essay then delves into a comprehensive literature review, examining key theories such as Battered Women's Syndrome, Male Pathologies, Women Blaming Explanations, Feminist Theory, Family System Theory, and Socio-Psychological Theory. Each theory is analyzed for its strengths and weaknesses in explaining the causes and consequences of domestic violence. Furthermore, the essay investigates the social and economic reasons contributing to violence against women, including societal norms, gender inequality, and financial pressures. The analysis includes the impact of arranged marriages and economic recession on domestic violence. The essay aims to demonstrate how women have used their crisis situations as a means to strengthen themselves and have outgrown from the situations.

Running head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG WOMEN
Domestic Violence among Women
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Authors Note:

1Domestic Violence among Women
Introduction:
One of the major health concern of the women of the society, today, is the mental and
physical health issues related to the domestic violence that they are perceived with, or that
they experience in their daily life. Domestic violence or domestic abuse refers to the violence
the violence that is committed by one against the other within a domestic setting, such as
family or marriage. This is essentially refereed to violence against women. According to the
United States of Justice Office on Violence against Women, the system of abusive behaviour
of any forms and in any relationship by one member against the other to exercise control, is
referred as Domestic Violence. According to the researcher, the abusive behaviour entails
upon the power relationship. The forms of abuses can take many forms, such as, physical
abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, abuses through social media,
economic abuse and the like (Axford et al. 2014). However, in Australia, the number of
domestic violence is increasing. As compared to the other countries of the contemporary
times, it is observed that Australia and New Zealand are the two countries that are on top of
the violence against women chart. Therefore, in the following essay the abusive behaviour
that the women of the country Australia are perceived with and how they have drawn
strengths and positivity form these abusive situations and relationships are discussed. The
aim of the essay is to show how women over time have used their crisis situations as a means
to strengthen themselves and have outgrown from the situations. To assess the same, the
essay initially has focused upon the literature that are available, which show certain situations
where the women have effectively dealt with their situations and have outgrown from them.
On that note, the essay has also included certain theoretical understandings that illustrate
upon the same.

2Domestic Violence among Women
Literature Review:
Battered Women’s Syndrome: Illustrated by Walker, this work was seen as the pioneering
feminist work focusing on the psychological impacts on the women due to domestic abuse on
the women. The study first entailed upon the concepts of Victimisation and the coercive
techniques that were perpetuated against the women, stating that there is an underlying power
relation behind the practice of domestic abuses and that the women are dependent upon their
male counterparts and their family for their basic needs, which gives the later the capability to
exercise power and control upon the former in order to maintain their power (Matthews et al.
2016). However, this particular theory had many loophole and is generally regarded as
having a reductionist approach.
Male Pathologies: the Male pathology theory states that the men who indulge in the abusive
behaviours or commit domestic violence, are psychologically disturbed, and the researcher
are of the opinion that the family background or the upbringing system process of these men
had been a disturbed and improper one that have impacted upon their mental health and
influence their present behaviour and situation. According to the Adult attachment cycle, that
the violent or abusive men have an increased interpersonal dependence with the abused is the
consequence of detachment or insecure attachment or a lack of care giver in the childhood
that has influenced the present behaviour of the person (Berns. 2017). Further, the theory has
claimed consumption of alcohol is another reason for such behaviour. However, it is been
observed that the men who do not consume alcohol or did not have disturbed childhood, also
practices such abusive behaviour on their female counterparts or on their girl child.
Women Blaming Explanations: This theory entails upon the belief that, women are needed to
be controlled or deserve to be chastised. The claim is that there are certain normative
behaviours, regarding the domestic and sexual duties and gender roles, which women must
abide by and if they do not follow the normative behaviours they are said to be deviating

3Domestic Violence among Women
from the rules of the society, which are unacceptable, and hence they deserve to be punished
(Kahmguilu. 2018).
Feminist Theory: With the emergence of political feminist movements, the Feministic
Theories entailed upon the causes and forms of women oppression and wished to illustrate it
from the perspectives of race, gender, class and sexual preferences. Since the concept of
Feminism described the system of society as patriarchal and have claimed to break the
societal norms that have impeded women, historically, the claim is that the power
relationship that governs this patriarchal society are the root cause for the domestic violence
(Coccia. 2017). Women oppression and wife beating, women abused, battered women, all
these notions are related to the inequal power relationship that governs the society and the
claim is that these are all a part of the systematic oppression of women that is being
continued since history, and not really are individual cases with individual root causes. The
notion is that, the oppression is the part of the systematic and structural patriarchal control
over the body and mind of women, built around the concept of male superiority and women
inferiority and stereotypes sex roles or gendered roles that are defined by the society and the
dependency of women regarding economic and social behaviour (Berns. 2017). The theory
not only upholds the patriarchal social structure and the power relationship, but also focuses
upon the gendered structure and the gendered roles.
Family System Theory: According to the Family System Theory, the family plays a great and
huge role in shaping the roles and attitudes of the children. It is observed, as according to the
Family system Theory, that the process of socialization and the process of gendered role
differentiation, as done by the family, play an important role in determining the future
behaviour of the children. From the perspective of the Family System Theory, the family
conflicts and conducts, the family behaviour and understandings, the factors of disobedience,
stress, economy and violence all contribute to the formation of the conception regarding

4Domestic Violence among Women
gendered roles and role stereotyping and attitude and behaviour of male children to the
women (Goodmark. 2013). The theory also claims that the family structure and the family
hierarchy that is practiced in a particular family, and the portrayal and notion of women in the
family, determines the future behaviour of the children and the understanding of the role
hierarchy or inequality of the same. Furthermore, the presence of violence within the family
system also contribute to the character building of the children.
Socio-Psychological Theory: The socio-psychological theory or model opines that the
individual behaviour of oppression or criminal violence can be best understood by the careful
observation of the external stimuli that impresses upon the individuals (Corvo and Johnson.
2013). The theory also focuses upon the interactional pattern that, an individual often
indulges into. The frustration- aggression theory, the traumatic bonding approach, the power
theory and the self-attitude theory, all are derived from and based upon the socio-
psychological theory.
 The Frustration- Aggression Theory is characterised by Freudian approach of
the violent behaviour of individuals. The basic notion of the theory is that the
factors of frustration, elicits behaviour of aggression. The stress factors,
related to incapability of achieving the goals, is observed to be the commonest
of all the stress factors governing the behaviour of the individuals, and this
often leads to aggressive behaviours to others. The behaviour of aggression,
involve both physical and verbal systems of aggression. The physical forms of
aggression refer to wife battering and oppression that affect the physical health
of women and the verbal forms of aggression refer to the tongue lashing, that
affects the psychological well-being of the women (Corvo and Johnson. 2013).
However, the frustration- aggression theory had also modified itself and

5Domestic Violence among Women
reinstated that the internalised norms and the externalised stimuli directs or
channels the aggressive behaviour.
 The Perversion Theory, as the term suggests refer to the deviated behaviour
that are elicited by the individuals, which are not normal or normalise in
society. The definition of such behaviour refers to the transgression of the
moral, legal or social values and is essentially related to the repulsive or
obsessive or abnormal sexual behaviour, as elicited by the individual. The
perversion theory explains that the aggressive or abnormal behaviour done on
the part of the individuals are the consequence of inborn derives or
pathological experience of the individuals eliciting such behaviour, in their
early childhood. Clarifying diverse sort of perversion, psychoanalysts bring up
that development includes leaving early points and protests and picking new
points and objects (Corvo and Johnson. 2013). Corruptions can, in this
manner, be considered as mutilations of points and articles, and what's more,
in the nonattendance or twisting of fitting inclination toward these objects.
 The Self-attitude Theory: This hypothesis stresses that in a general public,
culture or gathering that qualities viciousness, people of low confidence may
try to support their picture according to other people and themselves via
completing vicious acts. Low confidence has for some time been attested to be
a standout amongst the most significant determinants of vicious conduct. This
hypothesis discloses the inclination to viciousness of those for whom society
make it hard to accomplish a sufficient dimension of confidence (Hughes et al.
2014). Tolerating this hypothesis would imply that all people who use
viciousness against ladies for example attackers, abductors, killers, and
batterers and rapists, suffering from the low self-esteem.

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Social Reasons for Domestic Violence: This entails upon the social notions underlying
violence against women. The researchers believe that the demographic indicators of gender
and systematic inequality influence the tendencies and the behaviour of the individuals. The
deviation from the socially determined gender roles on the part of the women and deviation
of the same from the normative gendered roles defined by the patriarchal structure of the
society consists the social reason of women oppression and subjugation. Innocenti Digest in
his report "Abusive behavior at home against ladies and Young ladies Florence" delineates
that brutality against ladies and young ladies keeps on being common worldwide that
slaughters them, rationally, monetarily, physically and explicitly (Khan. 2000). That is the
most common example of human rights infringement, denying ladies' and young ladies'
respect, security and equity in equality with their partners. They have no rights to make the
most of their opportunity and rights without restrictions (Zurbriggen., and Roberts. 2013).
This developing energy has constrained a progressively fair misgiving of the reasons and
impacts of viciousness against ladies, and positive advances have been actualized in certain
countries, that incorporate rectifying and changing of laws that oversee with this subject.
Economic Reason for Violence Against Women: The economic reason for the violence of
women, especially refer to the scenarios with arrange marriages where the factors of money,
power and status become extremely crucial and gives rise to marital abuse and partner
violence. Harney (2011) in his examination "The Impact of the Recession on Domestic
Violence against Women and Support Services in Ireland: an Exploratory Study" has
inspected aggressive behaviour at home against females in the point of view of the monetary
retreat in Ireland. The overview has two phases of profundity brain research in that it
investigates: right off the bat, how the budgetary emergency is affecting the ladies, who are
experiencing household misuse; furthermore, also, to investigate the offices that can be
accommodated the security of ladies. Harney analysed the character and uniqueness of

7Domestic Violence among Women
abusive behaviour at home against ladies in Ireland, and research the women's activist
speculations on abusive behaviour at home. The survey research done by Harney is gathered
of meeting of centred gathering of five specialist co-ops working in a ladies' haven in Ireland.
Likewise broke down how the administration influenced the life of working ladies, with
regards to the present Irish monetary emergency. Briefing (2013) notes in his examination
"Completion Violence against Women, The case for an extensive universal activity plan" has
investigated the action of governments in focusing on the end of savagery against ladies in
the entirety of its assortments, under the steerage of the Commission on the Status of Women
(CSW57). Under this heading, duty of governments is earnestly required to hurry the
execution of existing systems to get rid of a wide range of brutality against ladies (VAW).
This work diagrams a proposition for a thorough worldwide activity program that tends to
this issue politically, with time-bound targets and unequivocal responsibility components.
This movement program should offer a guide to quick track the execution of existing courses
of action to get rid of savagery against grown-up females.
According to Grovert (2008), the social relationships of women, help them to deal
with the impacts of abusive relationship. It is observed, as according to the author that the
women, who have a good family relationship and support of the same and a god rapport with
her friends, can much easily deal with and end an abusive relationship. As the author
reviewed in the article, that that many women lacked the resources that can help them to get
through with the abusive relationships. They even lacked a good friend who would hear their
part of story and could console them. Further, the author has opined that employment is also a
great help for the women to deal with the abusive relationships. This gives them not only a
sense of independence but also provide them with a standpoint of their own (Heath. 2014).
Further, the author has mentioned that abusive relationships, influence the mental and
psychological wellbeing of the women, and therefore, the help of a counsellor or the mental

8Domestic Violence among Women
health professionals can help them to address the issues. The author has also considered the
conditions of the working women, stating that, in case of the working women, the situation of
domestic violence can influence their mental health more, as they are already in contact with
external stressors related their work place, and the domestic violence worsens the situation
even more and they find it quite difficult to account the situation properly (Rainer.,
Wadsworth., and Wilson. 2015).
The psychoanalytic studies suggest that the experiences of domestic violence lefts
heavy impacts upon the women, impacting upon both, their psychological and physical
wellbeing. The situations of violence create frustration, aggression among the women as well.
Some of the victims have also accounted that they have felt and experienced life-threatening
situations. Due to the experiences of domestic violence, many women have accounted that
they are suffering from stress attacks and anxiety attacks, and many victims have also
observed to be suffering from traumas, inflicted by the certain abusive situations.
Australia and Domestic Violence:
Australia, is observed with increasing rate of domestic violence, not only among the
women, but also among the girl children. There have seen to be increasing rate of complaints
regarding the same and the situations have now reached the political level. In March 2015,
the Prime Minister depicted aggressive behaviour at home as an 'awful and fatal pandemic',
and declared the foundation of another Advisory Panel on viciousness against women. This
pursued a dedication by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) at its most recent
gathering to make pressing aggregate move to address savagery against ladies, the Victorian
Government's foundation of a Royal Commission into Family Violence, and a time of
continued media thoughtfulness regarding the issue of abusive behaviour at home. In spite of
the ongoing open spotlight on abusive behaviour at home and calls for expanded Government
financing to help casualties of abusive behaviour at home and savagery counteractive action

9Domestic Violence among Women
endeavours, the Budget conveys a generally minor measure of subsidizing for another
national mindfulness crusade and does not build subsidizing for other national aggressive
behaviour at home activities (Thomas and Dunkley, 2019). The Budget gives subsidizing to
network administrations stipends, lawful help and vagrancy administrations, however this
financing is present moment, proceeding with a cycle of financing vulnerability for these
specialist co-ops. As a piece of the 2014– 15 Budget, the Government acquainted changes
with optional stipends programs directed by the Department of Social Services. The changes
brought about financing for network stipends being diminished by $240.0 million more than
four years (Thomas and Dunkley, 2019). Additional worries that an autonomous body ought
to be built up to screen and assess the arrangement likewise have been recognized. The
National Plan incorporates a guarantee to a progression of multiyear assessments over its
multiyear life expectancy. On 3 June 2014, Health Outcomes International (connected by the
Government to build up an assessment plan) discharged its report, National Plan to Reduce
Violence against Women and their Children 2010– 2022: Evaluation Plan. The report
suggests that a free master be locked in at every assessment stage to examine assessment
announcing, lead conferences with key partners and assess 'leader exercises' (Thomas and
Dunkley, 2019).
However, the establishment of Community programs have changed the situation in
the country to some extent. The Non- Governmental Organizations and an initiative from the
World Health Organization has changed the scene to some extent. The community
programmes and the domestic violence shelter has enabled the women of the country to come
out of their homes and seek for help. The community programs have provided the victims
with compassionate ears to listen to their parts of the story and has provided the hands of
help. These community programs not only help the victims emotionally, but also have helped
them with financial and legal helps. More importantly, the domestic violence shelters, have

10Domestic Violence among Women
enabled the women to come out of their home or walk out of their relationships. These
programs and shelters not only enable the women to come out of the situations, but also
empower them financially by preparing them up for occupations or by providing them with
employment opportunities (Thomas and Dunkley, 2019). The community programs, that
incorporate professional mental health counsellors, have also encouraged the women to come
out and share their part of the story of breaking out the impediments and thus, encouraging
the other women suffering form the situation. In a recent effort, the Domestic Violence
Resource Centre Victoria, has encouraged some of the former victims of abusive
relationships, who are now at a better place in their life to come out and share their stories to
inspire the thousand others, who are still experiencing the abusive behaviours (Thomas and
Dunkley, 2019). The organisation had made a video, which within some hours had went viral
in the country, creating a surge of excitement through the country.
The essay entails upon the causes and research works done in order to view the causes
and the impacts of the domestic violence or abuses upon the women and further moved
towards the situations of the country and the efforts of the government to account these
situations. therefore, as a concluding point it can be said that the experiences of domestic
abuses gravely affect the psychological wellbeing of the women and the community
programs and the counselling programs are an effective means to help the victims.

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