5.2: Myths about Domestic Violence
- Page ID
- 215242
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Despite there being a clear definition for domestic violence, it is important to realize that many myths exist surrounding the topic of domestic violence and that these myths can have important implications on how survivors are treated. While there are a number of domestic violence myths, some of the more popular ones include “ the ideas that domestic violence only involves physical abuse, battered women could easily leave if they wanted to, and victims are to blame for the violence” (Policastro & Payne, 2013, p. 330). Policastro and Payne (2013) set out to examine how domestic violence myth acceptance influences how victims are treated. They found that 51% of respondents believe that it is completely the woman’s choice to stay in an abusive relationship and that around the same number of respondents did not understand why it was so difficult for a woman to leave a violent relationship (2013). These results have startling implications for how women in violent relationships are viewed and treated, as those who accept domestic violence myths are more likely to criminalize domestic violence survivors for not leaving the relationship. “Note that through the use of criminal prosecutions for exposing children to domestic violence and delayed police responses to domestic violence, victims are in fact relabeled offenders and treated as offenders through criminal justice interventions” (Policastro & Payne, 2013, p. 342). While domestic violence myths may seem harmless, they can have damaging effects on how survivors are treated not just by family, friends, and coworkers, but also by the criminal justice system.
Attribution: Domestic Violence Against Women is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.
Domestic Violence Against Women, Molly Cutter and Sarah Hautzinger, Saint Mary’s College
Video
Make sure you give yourself time to watch this powerful 15:43 min TedTalk. From the video, you should be able to answer the question- when is the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence and what does that mean when we work with this population? Come ready to share what you learned.