This file was prepared for electronic distribution by the inforM staff. Questions or comments should be directed to inform-editor@umail.umd.edu. TEACHING ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESOURCE GUIDE WS400: Issues in Feminist Theory and Method Tonia Trodahl Jennifer Sayles Jean Potuchek Jennifer McMahon Denise Maynard Lisa Kaugher Valerie Hoffman Christina Cammarata Katharine Burke Gettysburg College Gettysburg, Pennsylvania May, 1993 INCORPORATING THE ISSUE OF WIFE BEATING INTO A SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE COURSE Tonia Trodahl Course Overview This course addresses various issues that are seen as deviant or as social problems. There are several underlying purposes involved: to provide information, to explore the subject from a sociological perspective, and to understand or explain violence in the context of the culture in which it exists. This course attempts to look at the logic of why violence occurs. This involves an examination of the types of violence and an attempt to gain a perspective as to the logic of violence and why it occurs. Topics in this course include sociological perspectives for viewing deviance, heterosexual deviance, homelessness, the scientific study of deviant behaviors, pornography, homosexuality, alcohol and drugs, the social distance scale, and anthropological perspectives on deviance. Several issues and dilemmas are identified for consideration in the issue of violence. These include: dilemmas of definition; dilemmas of data; dilemmas of social control; dilemmas related to civil rights; dilemmas related to role definitions; institutional dilemmas; issues related to social power; and dilemmas of causation. Class lectures, films, demonstrations and outside reading assignments provide the material for this course. In addition to these, the students are required to write a short biographical paper and a term paper and to complete a "Hands-On Experience" assignment. The "Hands-On Experience" is a semester long assignment that is designed to allow the student opportunities to come into contact with the various forms of deviance dealt with in the course. This assignment involves activities outside of class such as attending lectures, viewing films, attending group or-support meetings (open meetings only), interviewing members of society who are labelled as deviant, reading additional books, and visiting such establishments that cater to specific kinds of people (such as gay bars or bookstores, or adult bookstores). The student keeps track of his or her activities and writes about what was learned from them. This project is intended to expose students to different ideas. Incorporating the Issue of Wife Beating Item number one of the course objectives listed on the syllabus for this class reads: "To provide an introduction to and a sociological perspective on the concept and phenomenon of deviance." In order to do this in terms of violence against women, this course first deals with the subject of violence as deviant in general. Violence is part of society -- this concept cannot be denied. Some violence is socially acceptable, such as in sports, childrearing, capital punishment, and the fact that police carry guns. Social violence is socially defined discomfort or pain; deviant social violence is social violence coupled with social control. This concept can then be used to introduce the subject of wife beating as a type of deviant behavior. Violence against women, which occurs in many forms, is a method of maintaining the status quo in which women are in socially subordinate positions. Violence is one way of ensuring that women do not move forward in their fight for equality. Violence used in this way is very effective -- the fear of physical harm, or even death, can have a powerful, altering effect on women's behavior. A common concept (although not necessarily factually valid) is that men have traditionally occupied the positions of power in society -- one of these being in the family. A commonly heard statement is that the man is the head of the household. An idea such as this lends legitimation to the idea that the husband has the right to beat his wife "to keep her in line." The concept of wife beating as an example of the way that violence is used as a method of social control needs to be stressed in the treatment of this topic within the course. Under the topic of "The Scientific Study of Deviant Behavior" the syllabus designates two class periods for the discussion of violence (a sample lesson plan follows this section). This includes violence in general, as well as the specific categories of child abuse and spouse abuse. Violence in general seems to receive the largest treatment, with child abuse receiving more than spouse abuse. This may be due to the fact that some people may find it easier to discuss the situation of children rather than wives because the marriage relationship is seen as a very private thing between a man and a woman. One way to bring the idea of wife beating out into focus is to begin by reading Chapter One in Del Martin's book, Battered Wives. By reading this the students would be able to gain a more "approachable" perspective on the subject. As they read more theoretical pieces on the subject they will have a more real concept of wife beating which they can then use as a context in which to examine the theories of wife beating. In order to tackle the idea of violence against women as a method of social control, there needs to be a framework within which to discuss this. Regarding wife beating, the framework that is necessary is an understanding of the institution of marriage, the different functions that it serves for men and women, and how this facilitates violence (and the legitimation of that violence). The chapter from Violence Against Wives (Dobash and Dobash) could be used to provide this framework. The article by Murray Straus could serve this purpose as well. Since another of the objectives of the course is "To analyze specific deviations in the context of the sociological perspective," the McCall and Shields piece ("Social and Structural Factors in Family Violence") would be useful as well. The article, while not an in-depth study of all the different theories, does provide a discussion of different theories of a sociological context that are available. The Breines and Gordon review essay ("The New Scholarship on Violence") from the faculty's list of resources would be a good complement in this approach. This essay discusses the relative merits and problems associated with different theories. In addition to the two days set aside on the syllabus for the discussion of violence, there are other possibilities in the course where the subject could be included as well. One place where this could be accomplished is the discussion of drugs and alcohol. A common conception in society is that men are more likely to beat their wives in a drunken rage -- in other words, it is the alcohol that is a strongly contributing factor to wife abuse. Since this section falls later in the course than the section focusing on violence, the students will already have a background in the subject and should be able to apply it to this context. The professor could introduce wife beating into this section of the course by posing a question for the class to discuss about the relationship between alcohol and violence in general, and then tie in the issue of wife beating. (Refer to the lesson plans following this section for sample discussion questions.) The Kanter and Straus article ("The 'Drunken Bum' Theory of Wife Beating") from the faculty resource list provides some data on these questions as well as their theory about the alcohol-violence link, and its connection to wife beating. One of the assignments in the course is a term paper on some aspect of a specific social deviation. The student is to ask a question about a specific issue and then investigate it. This paper has the potential to provide students with an opportunity to address the issue of wife beating more closely, from an angle of his or her own choosing. Perhaps the topic could be examined in terms of whether a specific theory provides an adequate explanation of the issue. Or the student could examine whether there exist any underlying social factors which may contribute to wife beating, either on the part of the husband or wife or both. A good opportunity of providing a way to integrate this material into the course, other than with readings and class discussion, is to make use of the "Hands-On Experience" assignment. This assignment is designed so that the student will come into contact with the various forms of deviation that are dealt with in the course. It might be too difficult for the student to get really close to the subject of wife beating in this manner because of the sensitivity of the subject -- for example, since the location of shelters is usually kept secret to protect the residents, it probably would not be feasible for a student to visit or attend a support group. However, there still may exist opportunities for students to gain a closer Perspective on the subject. Perhaps a woman who was battered herself and is comfortable talking about her experiences would either serve as a guest speaker or participate in a small group discussion of the issue. Or perhaps they could interview the director of a shelter or some other person who has had experience in this area. Another possibility is that of attending some type of hearing (if there are any open ones). Learning more about protection from abuse orders, as well as other options that are available to women may help students gain a better understanding of what women in this situation face. Students may also have come into contact with the issue in their own lives and be willing to share that. There may be other possibilities as well; the point is that the subject of wife beating does not need to be limited to classroom instruction. Wife beating is an important element in the idea of violence as deviant behavior, especially in terms of viewing violence as a method of social control. To some people, the idea of one half of the population of a society using violence as a means of social control of the other half is deviant in itself. It is this idea that must be part of any treatment of wife beating as well as violence against women in general. Suggested Readings for Students Martin, Del. Battered Wives. California: Volcano Press, Inc. 1981. Chapter One: A Letter From a Battered Wife. This chapter opens with a letter from a battered wife. In this letter she describes what her life was like as a battered wife. She tells of the problems and obstacles that she faced when she attempted to get help -- these obstacles involved different aspects of life including legal, economic and social barriers. The chapter concludes with a brief overview of the beginnings of the battered women's movement. This chapter would provide a good basic introduction to the issue of wife beating. By including the letter from the battered wife, the issue is made more real and approachable than if just statistics on the occurrence of wife battering were presented. Dobash, R. Emerson and Dobash, Russell. Violence Against Wives: A Case Against the Patriarchy. New York: The Free Press, 1979. Chapter Five: Becoming A Wife This chapter examines the nature of marriage in order to understand violence against women in this situation. The position of husbands and wives and their relationship to one another are considered in this examination. Also examined are the ideals and beliefs about marriage that arc commonly held; the point is made that the importance of marriage and the ideals, expectations and demands that are connected to marriage are different for men and women. McCall, George J. and Shields, Nancy M. "Social and Structural Factors in Family Violence," in Lystad, Mary (ed.) Violence in the Horne: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers, 1986 Violence is a social fact. This article addresses the slightly more general topic of family violence. Family violence is referred to as both a sociological problem and a social problem. Since the treatment of family violence is influenced by one's orientation toward the topic, there exist different theories concerning family violence. This article is a review of some of those theories. The theories discussed include Feminist Theory, Culture of Violence Theory, Subculture Theory, Systems Theory, Interactionist Theory, and Sex Role Theory to name several (there are others discussed as well). Resources for Faculty Martin, Del. Battered Wives. California: Volcano Press, Inc., 1981. Chapter Three: Wife-Beating and the Marriage Contract This chapter examines the background of marriage as it is rooted in patriarchy. The analysis in this chapter is more historically based than in the chapter in Dobash and Dobash. Topics include: the foundation of the patriarchy; the trend toward legal reform; the nature of the marriage contract; and the economics of marriage. The development of the roles of husband and wife is discussed as occurring within the patriarchal family rather than out of "biological realities." Gil, David G. "Sociocultural Aspects of Domestic Violence," in Lystad, Mary (ed). Violence in the Home: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers, 1986. This article treats domestic violence as an element of the process of social relations rather than as an isolated occurrence between individuals. Domestic violence is seen as a "multidimensional phenomenon reflective of individual deviance." The concept of violence, in terms of basic hypotheses and definitions, is examined, as is the idea of families as agents and arenas of violence. Gil then discusses social-structural violence in the United States, as well as theories about overcoming violence. Breines, Wini and Gordon, Linda. "The New Scholarship on Family Violence," Signs 8(3): 1983, pp. 490 531. Although this article is about family violence in general, it does focus more in depth on the specific varieties of family violence. The section that focuses on wife beating provides a review of the available literature (at the time it was written) on this topic. The authors address the advantages and disadvantages of the major theories concerning wife-beating. Straus, Murray A. "The Marriage License as a Hitting License: Evidence from Popular Culture, Law and Social Science." in Straus, Murray A. and Hotaling, G. T. (eds.). The Social Causes of Husband-Wife Violence. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1980. This chapter's self stated objective is to probe beyond the 'official' version of reality which sees the family as a "group devoted to gentleness and love." This chapter examines the idea that these norms are juxtaposed to another set of norms that legitimate the use of violence in the family. Straus deals with the idea that something in the family system not only produces a high level of physical aggression, but also makes wives the victims of that aggression. The issue of legitimation of marital violence by the courts and police is also discussed in terms of the following: immunity from suit; failure of the police to act; failure of prosecutors to act; victim compensation; and the legal system and cultural approval of intrafamily violence. Brush, Lisa D. "Violent Acts and Injurious Outcomes in Married Couples: Methodological Issues in the National Survey of Families and Households," Gender & Society 4(1): 1990, pp. 56-67. In her article. Brush provides a feminist critique of quantitative violence research. She identifies problems with "non-feminist" analyses of wife beating. especially Straus's Conflict Tactics Scale, because using this "family systems" approach overlook "important gendered variation in norms, legitimation... and power." (p. 57) Brush presents her own analysis as an alternative to this method of analysis. This article would be useful to the professor because it provides a necessary critique of work that. while performed by sociologists, may not be feminist in orientation and therefore may be presenting the issue from a male biased view. Kantor, Glenda Kaufman and Straus, Murray A. "The 'Drunken Bum' Theory of Wife Beating," Social Problems 34(3): 1987, pp. 213-230. This article examines the idea that wife beating is a result of drunkenness and socioeconomic status. The results show that drinking was associated with higher rates of wife beating but it was not seen as a necessary variable. Rather it was the combination of lower socioeconomic status, drinking and approval of violence that was most significantly associated with wife abuse. Cultural approval of violence was an especially strong indicator of wife abuse. This article can be used to bring up the issue of wife abuse in another section of the course which may not deal directly with violence. However, the links to alcohol use make the issue relevant to the discussion on wife abuse. Lesson Plans The following sections are taken from the course syllabus as places where this material can be integrated. The Scientific Study of Deviant Behaviors Violence: General, Child Abuse, Spouse Abuse (2 class periods) Day 1: Class: The topic of violence as deviant in general, and introduce wife beating as an aspect of this. Readings: In addition to the regular assignment, Martin Chapter One. Day 2: Class: Theories of wife beating Readings: Dobash and Dobash, and McCall and Shields Sample Discussion Questions: 1-Do you feel that wife beating is deviant or that it should just be left within the privacy of the family? 2-Do you think male violence against women, and wife beating in particular, is a method of social control employed by men in order to keep women in subordinate positions? In addition to the above section, wife beating may also be incorporated in the following section: Causation Theory Alcohol and Drugs (2 class periods) -- wife beating can be brought up here as part of a discussion of alcohol use, first by discussing the link between violence and alcohol in general (#1 below), and then tieing in the issue of wife beating (#2 below). (The Kanter article can provide the professor with background on this issue.) Sample Discussion Questions: 1-Do you think that by lowering inhibitions, alcohol use makes people more likely to be violent? 2-What about wife beating? Are men who drink more, more likely to beat their wives? (What about men who are sober when they beat their wives?) INCORPORATING MATERIAL ON WIFE ABUSE IN A CONTEMPORARY WOMEN WRITERS COURSE Lisa Kaugher Course Overview This is a literature class devoted to the study of the different roles of women depending on their culture. It is a study of women writers and their language. Questions are raised to discover why women write, their styles, and the differences between women's writing and men's. The topics of the fiction by and about women include much diversity. The diversity includes women from cultures all over the world. As stated in the syllabus: "...the course examines fiction by and about women from varied socio-cultural backgrounds in an effort to discover both the diversity and the commonality of female experience." (Syllabus: Women's Studies 219 Contemporary Women Writers: Cross Cultural Perspectives, Gettysburg College, Professor Powers) The course goal is for students to develop an awareness of the diversity of women's lifestyles. This awareness comes from fiction by female authors and their individual styles. Incorporating the Issue of Wife Abuse A common experience among many women from all parts of the world is the horror of wife battering. It varies in forms but is a problem in all parts of the world. The Contemporary Women Writers course examines gender inequalities in the United States and also in India. Violence against women is a problem in India, which has grown dramatically as a consequence of rapid capitalist development coupled with traditional patriarchal values. Traditions differ from society to society; however, violence against women occurs globally. My goal is to compare and contrast violence against wives in India and in the United States. Although the course also studies Native American Women, African American Women and Immigrant Women, the comparison solely between the United States and India will be more thorough and condensed than if the comparison touched on all the different types of women discussed in the course. The text Fire on the Mountain by Anita Desai discusses wife abuse in India. Although the cultures are totally different the violence is happening and it is a serious problem for women. Through the reading of this text we gain background knowledge of the situation in India. Many factors contribute to the violence in both countries: social class, alcohol etc. An awareness of this violence and what can be done to help end it is crucial for the future. The syllabus is designed in such a way that a comparison study of wife battering can be incorporated very easily. Because the course is a literature class and the readings I have suggested are not literature but factual articles, it is imperative for the students to read the suggested feminist articles which are assigned in conjunction with the text. Contemporary Women Writers: Cross-Cultural Perspectives is a course dealing with literature from a number of countries. India, one of these countries, is represented by the reading of the book Fire on the Mountain by Anita Desai. This novel touches upon some of the issues of wife battering. The existing syllabus calls for two days of discussion of this book. To be able to teach a comparison study of "wife battering" in the United States to "wife battering" in India, more time must be allotted. After the reading of this book is the appropriate time to incorporate this discussion. The following is an annotated bibliography of sources which would prove to be useful for a professor to gain knowledge of the situations in the United States and India. Suggested Readings for Students Ferraro, Kathleen J. and John M. Johnson, "How Women Experience Battering: The Process of Victimization." Feminist Frontiers 11: Rethinking Sex, Gender and Society. Laurel Richardson and Verta Taylor (New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1989), pp. 41~427. This article examines the victimization process of relationships, and raises the question of why battered women stay in abusive relationships. A battered woman experiences so much shock and confusion, the situations are at times so poor for women. The article also discusses other forms of victimization against women. Public support is necessary in the campaigns to end the battering of women. This article is a definite option for the students to read. The Feminist Frontiers text is at a level acceptable for a one hundred or two hundred level course. The article includes data tables, personal experiences, and touches on the problem of wife battering in the United States from a number of different aspects. The article would also be helpful for faculty because it is a brief overview of the situation and is full of pertinent background information. Kishwar, Madhu, "Rethinking Dowry Boycott," MANUSHI: A Journal about Women and Society. Sept-Oct. 1988: 48. This article comes from a feminist publication out of India. It includes a discussion about dowry. It argues that dowry is a social evil and that dowry weddings in India should not be attended. This is one of the forms of wife abuse in India which differs from the United States. The position of women in India is very poor, dowry leads to later problems in marriage. In India the wife is looked upon as man's property. Parents, however, believe dowry is important. This is the argument created and gives a genuine description of the situation and debate of this problem in India. Kishwar, Madhu and Ruth Vanita, "The Burning of Roop Kanwar," MANUSHI: A Journal about Women and Society. Sept-Dec. 1987: 42-43. This article, again from the feminist publication from India, discusses the problem of wife burning in India. It gives an actual story of a woman and the reactions of her family. Parents of wives who are burned mourn; however they accept the situation. The death is blamed on suicide or an accident. Although it is an act of violence in society, it is a situation in which the violence cannot be proved and therefore continues to occur. I feel both of these articles from the MANUSHI Magazine should be read by the students. They are not lengthy and are perfect in expressing the situation in India. Books written in the United States may be able to describe wife burning and dowry murders, however, this is a great example of Indian women's experiences. The debates over issues like these can be expressed and understood after reading these articles. Faculty could benefit from these articles simply because they are different. They are real life accounts of wife abuse. Students would enjoy reading this different type of literature, it is a literature that is more real to life than something from a sociological text. Mies, Maria, "Violence Against Women and the Ongoing Primitive Accumulation of Capital," Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale: Women in the International Division of Labor. (London: Zed Books Ltd., 1986), pp. 145-174. This chapter discusses the relationship between labor and violence against women in India. A quote which is important in describing the situation comes from the introductory paragraph on page 145. "The common feature of all the production and labor relations described above is the use of structural or direct violence and coercion by which women are exploited and superexploited." The situation, economically, and socially, is presented in relation to dowry-murders, amniocentesis and "femicide," and rape. This relates to the situation in the United States when the issue of the lack of education for women arises. I feel this is an excellent choice not only for background for professors but for students as well. Economics play a large role in the cause of violence against women, and the solution to end this is not always easy to figure out. Resources for Faculty Breines, Wini, and Linda Gordon, "The New Scholarship on Family Violence," Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, Vol. 8 no. 3, 1983, pp. 490-531. This article discusses concerns surrounding wife abuse which have been emerging. The problem of wife abuse is viewed from a feminist point of view, a nonfeminist point of view and psychologically in the article. There is discussion of how family violence is becoming less tolerable in society and the emergence of the increase of privacy in families. Some major themes are the discussion of sexism, stress and issues of gender pertaining to wife abuse. This article is a bit in depth for students, however for faculty it is very beneficial. Reading about the different perspectives of wife abuse may spark ideas for class discussion. Walker, Lenore, The Battered Woman Syndrome Study. (New York: Springer Publishing Co., 1984). Lenore Walker is a well-known author of material related to battered women in the United States. She discusses key psychological and sociological factors which include: learned helplessness theory and behavioral cycle theory of violence. The article touches on sex role socialization, and the difference which economic class, religion, and race, and the influence of alcohol have on the type of person who batters. Although this article has a bit of sociological and psychological analysis, it is not too challenging and would benefit a student and a professor. Walker's perspective is interesting and the short article contains a number of graphs and charts. It is interesting to see what type of person is prone to batter and why. Lerman, Lisa G., "Prosecution of Wife Beaters: Institutional Obstacles and Innovations," Violence in the Home: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. ed. Mary Lystad, Ph.D. (New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers, 1986), pp. 25~293. This article would be beneficial for a professor to gain background on ways to better the situation for battered women. In regard to fitting the topic into the course syllabus, legal issues may be an area not stressed due to time constraints. Unfortunately this is a crucial area to learn about in order to make change. This article touches on possible goals to set up more shelters, and improve police response to domestic violence. The argument is that legislation must be developed in order to better the situation for battered women. Goals are discussed to find concerned prosecutors to share their experiences with other prosecutors. Mazumdar, Vina and Kumud Sharma, "Sexual Division of Labor and the Subordination of Women: A Reappraisal from India," Persistent Inequalities: Women and World Development. ed. Irene Tinker, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), pp. 185-197. This chapter would provide information for the professor on the relationship of the subordination of women to the development process. Sexual inequality and the division of labor have always gone hand-in-hand with the subordination of women in India. The chapter discusses the overworked woman who is uneducated and receives nothing in return for her labor. Roy, Maria, "Some Thoughts Regarding the Criminal Justice System and Wifebeating," Battered Women: A Psychosociological Study of Domestic Violence. ed. Maria Roy (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1977), pp. 138-139. This article takes a look at the family and the intervention of the law. The existing criminal justice system is dominated by males; this is an area where change is needed. Judicial systems usually try to keep the family together as one unit; this article discusses how this is not always the best solution. Our existing legal remedies are inadequate at this time and need reconstruction. Jain, Devaki, "India: A Condition Across Caste and Class," Sisterhood is Global: The International Women's Movement Anthology. ed. Robin Morgan (New York: Doubleday, 1984), pp. 305-309. This provides an overview of women's position in India and shows the clear demonstration of the lack of power women hold. A description of the position women are in politically, socially, biologically, etc. is given in this overview. Liddle, Joanna, and Rama Joshi, Daughters of Independence: Gender, Caste, and Class in India. (London: Zed Books Ltd. 1986). This book discusses the role of patriarchy and its relation to the subordination of women in India. It does, however, include the success of a number of Indian women. Also, there is a discussion of the link between social systems of class and women's roles. Lesson Plans I feel the best way to present the two culturally different problems of wife battering is to compare and contrast. Because, although the context of wife beating may take totally different forms, it is a problem, a form of violence against women. Due to the nature of the existing syllabus, I have developed a two-day plan to incorporate around the reading of the book Fire on the Mountain. This could be expanded or condensed depending on the number of reading assignments used. Day One: Reading already prepared- "How Women Experience Battering: The Process of Victimization" (Kathleen J. Ferraro and John M. Johnson) "Rethinking Dowry Boycott" (Madhu Kishwar) "The Burning of Roop Kanwar" (Madhu Kishwar) These choices touch on the basic situations in the two countries and provide a background on the problems. Day Two: Reading already Prepared- "Violence Against Women and the Ongoing Primitive Accumulation of Capital" (Maria Mies) "The Battered Woman Syndrome Study" (Lenore WaLker) These choices once again touch on the situations in both countries. The Walker article deals with sociological and psychological factors. The Mies article relates the issue of violence against women to rapid capitalist development. *This is not a lot of reading; more may easily be assigned to include a more in depth discussion of additional topics such as legislation, politics, etc. Possible topics for discussion: -History of wife battering in the country. Importance of traditions, lack of change. -Role of patriarchy in society. This is something both countries have in common. -Economic role in wife battering. Crucial in both countries but very different types of labor involved. -Possible ways to put a stop to wife battering -- also in relation to education, the law, shelters, etc. -General comparison and contrast between the two situations of wife battering. Because the class is a literature class, the feminist and sociological analysis would most likely not be deep. The issues discussed would provide background to the novels being read. A possible paper topic would be to analyze a novel about Indian Women with respect to their social situation, and to compare this to the situation of women in the United States. It also might be possible to have a representative from the battered women's shelter in Gettysburg come to class and speak. A real discussion of the abuse which is occurring may help students to realize this common female problem, and possibly spark ideas of how to take action. It could prove to be eye opening for many students who do not realize the extent of the problem here in the United States.