Resisting domestic violence

Domestic Violence Awareness Month, observed in October, provides an opportunity to recognize the extent of violence in homes throughout the world–and to do something about it.

Sign: "Northhampton is a domestic violence-free zone"
Photo by Ben Pollard, used under CC Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

We know violence against women is a problem; so too is the violence some women inflict on their partners.*

But awareness can lead to change.  Just consider:

Fifty years ago, “marital rape” was regarded almost as an oxymoron; according to the 1962 Model Penal Code, rape involved forced intercourse by a man of a woman who was not his wife. Then in 1993, marital rape became a crime in all 50 states.

Forty years ago, most people had never heard the term “domestic violence.” But in 1994, the U.S. Congress enacted the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as part of the crime legislation.

Forty years ago, most people had never heard the term “husband abuse,” and like “marital rape,” many people scoffed at the idea of a woman abusing her husband or intimate partner. Since 1996, Congress has enacted additional statutes that allow domestic violence offenders (male or female) to be prosecuted in federal courts.

With increased awareness of the seriousness of domestic violence has come increased resources and information:

Our society has not yet reached zero tolerance for domestic violence, but is moving in the right direction.

* Hines, D. A., & Malley-Morrison, K. (2001).  Psychological effects of abuse against men: A neglected area of research. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 2, 75-85.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology