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| NCJ Number:
|
NCJ 198004
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| Title:
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"Gender Symmetry" in Domestic Violence: A Substantive and Methodological Research Review
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| Journal:
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Violence Against Women Volume:8 Issue:11 Dated:November 2002 Pages:1332 to 1363
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| Author(s):
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Michael S. Kimmel
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| Publisher Url*:
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http://www.sagepub.com |
| Publication Date:
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11/2002 |
| Pages:
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32 |
| Type:
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Literature reviews |
| Origin:
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United States |
| Language:
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English |
| Annotation:
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Some empirical studies have suggested that rates of domestic
violence by women and men are equivalent; this article explores
these claims of "gender symmetry" in intimate partners' use of
violence by reviewing the empirical foundations of the research
and critiquing existing sources of data on domestic violence. |
| Abstract:
|
Despite numerous studies that report the preponderance of
domestic violence to be perpetrated by men against women, there
are also currently more than 100 empirical studies or reports
that suggest rates of domestic violence are equivalent for men
and women. The two large-scale reviews of literature that show
"gender symmetry" in domestic violence are useful indicators of
the types of evidence offered and arguments made by their
proponents (Archer, 2000; Fiebert, 1997). Of the 79 empirical
studies that Fiebert reviewed, 55 used the same empirical measure
of family conflict, i.e., the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) as the
sole measure of domestic violence. The CTS was also used in 76
out of the 82 studies that Archer examined. In addition, 28 of
the studies noted by Fiebert discussed samples composed entirely
of single people younger than 30, and not married couples. This
article discusses the characteristics of the CTS in some depth
and explains why studies of college-age and young dating couples
yield different rates of violence and aggression than studies of
somewhat older married couples. Based on this analysis, the
author concludes that violence as an expression of family
conflict is somewhat less than symmetrical, but would include a
significant percentage of women. He hypothesizes that including
assaults and homicide by ex-spouses, spousal homicide, and sexual
assault, the gendered ratio of male-perpetrated violence to
female-perpetrated violence would be closer to 4:1. On the other
hand, violence that is instrumental in the maintenance of control
-- the more systematic, persistent, and injurious type of
violence -- is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men, with rates
captured best by crime victimization studies. More than 90
percent of this violence is perpetrated by men. When sexual
violence and violence by ex-spouses are considered, the evidence
is overwhelming that gender asymmetry in domestic violence
remains in full effect. 4 notes and 94 references |
| Main Term(s):
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Female victims |
| Index Term(s):
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Domestic assault ; Male female offender comparisons ; Domestic violence causes ; Gender issues ; Violent men ; Violent females |
| |
To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=198004
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