5.3: Domestic Violence; Societal Factors and the Social Construction of Gender

Societal Factors and the Social Construction of Gender

Domestic violence can occur in a number of forms, but it has its roots in both the larger social structures of society and in the social construction of gender.

Societal Factors

While some believe domestic violence is carried out purely because of individual actions and decisions, it is necessary to consider the underlying social structures and institutions of American society and how those affect the individual decision to enact violence. Michalski (2004) explains that domestic violence occurs because of structural factors established in society that affect relationships. Some of these relationship factors can include a high degree of social isolation for the couple from other people, an absence of integrated networks, unequal access to resources between partners, a centralization of authority in one partner, and violent network exposure in one partner (Michalski, 2004). According to Michalski, the structural approach “presents a concise model that emphasizes the immediacy of relational variables and the social contexts within which domestic violence tends to occur rather than attributing ‘causality’ to the individual characteristics of perpetrators or survivors” (2004, p. 669). Because of this, Michalski suggests that the best way to reduce the risk of domestic violence in relationships is to change the culture of violence that develops in a society, rather than simply encouraging individuals to act in a nonviolent matter, as change will only come about at the structural level (2004). In this way, taking a sociological approach can help explain how and why domestic violence occurs. It is also important to consider how the social construction of gender has influenced the development of domestic violence.

Social Construction of Gender

The issue of domestic violence must also be understood in the context of social constructions of gender. Society has created social norms that reflect the way children are raised. Growing up, everyone does gender. The idea here is that this feeds into the high rates of domestic violence against women. Shaw and Lee (2015) state, “If boys are raised to hide emotion, see sensitivity as weakness, and view sexual potency as wound up with interpersonal power, and girls are raised to be dependent and support masculine entitlement, then interpersonal violence should be no surprise” (p. 542). The different ways that males and females are raised affect the way they behave later in life. Although it is unfortunate, it makes sense that boys who are raised to be tough and not cry grow up to be men who cannot control their anger.

Domestic Violence is Intersectional and Transnational

It is important to understand there is no one universal experience of domestic violence, and as such, it must be considered both intersectionally and transnationally. Taking an intersectional approach means considering how multiple factors, such as gender, race, class, and religion, impact a woman’s experience in a relationship where she is experiencing domestic violence. Sokoloff and Dupont (2005) explain the importance of intersectionality and taking specific cultures into account when discussing domestic violence. “No dimension, such as gender inequality, is privileged in explaining domestic violence. Most important, gender inequality itself is modified by its intersection with other systems of power and oppression” (Sokoloff & Dupont, 2005, p. 43). While many people think of gender as being the most important form of oppression in domestic violence, it is important to remember these “other oppressions,” such as race or class, that could affect how women are helped or viewed. For example, a poor woman of color in a violent relationship is facing multiple oppressions, not just the oppression of her gender, that are shaping her experiences. Sokoloff and Dupont also point out the advantages of taking an intersectional approach when discussing domestic violence, listing benefits such as the opportunity for marginalized women to have a voice about their experiences, the encouragement of activism among women at the margins, and the increased call for culturally competent help and services, such as services that are explicitly not homophobic for LGBTQ survivors, bilingual services for immigrant women, or special food preparation for some religious women (2005). While an intercultural approach may at times seem overwhelming, it is necessary in order to provide services that will accommodate all women, not just a select few.

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