Characteristics and attitude towards domestic violence of women in an abusive household

Date

2011

Degree

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Gloria Luz M. Nelson

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Abstract

An average of sixty-one women from one hundred women respondents suffered from physical, emotional and sexual abuse in their respective households. Eight from the sixty-one women’s stories were documented to provide both breadth and depth in answering the research question of the study: Are there differences in socioeconomic characteristics and their attitude towards domestic violence among women in an abusive household? All the women who were physically abused were also found to be emotionally abused. Among these women, one-third does not only experience the two but accompanied by sexual abuse. Ages of women in abusive household were found to be from 18 to 40 years old. Majority of them are married with at least two children, attained at least college level of education and are productively employed. All of the women were found to have negative cognitive, behavioral and affective attitude towards domestic violence. Using Fisher’s exact test, educational attainment and employment were found to be significantly associated with their negative cognitive, behavioral and affective attitude at p≤0.1 and p≤0.05. Radical feminism suggests that women were able to construct negative attitude towards abuse because of gaining higher education. They have learned that abuse towards women is illegal and unacceptable. Although they express disfavor, they were still found to be victims of abuse because of being in a society greatly influenced by patriarchal ideologies. These patriarchal ideologies support the violent acts of men towards women as rightful and in turn blame women for their situation. Themes that emerged from the stories of eight women in an abusive household are the presence of children which prevents the woman from leaving the abusive household, the abuser’s denial of his abusive behavior, the tendency of the women to endure abusive behavior which reinforces the idea of martyr complex and the young age of the woman which made her weak from the abuse. Also, the housewification of women, where they assume solely the role of a housewife reinforces the abuse because of women’s inability to perform duties well and desire to do things other than being a housewife. Cheating spouses and jealousy is also another reason for abuse. Finally, family support serves as deciding factor for the abused woman. Unavailability of family support makes it difficult for the woman to leave the abusive household because of low self esteem that stems from prolonged abuse.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Document Type

Thesis

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