The Feminist Theory

Women have been subjected to partner violence perpetrated by men throughout the ages, but it was not until recent decades that violence against women has become recognised as a social problem and a ‘real’ crime (Hertzog, 2007). Feminist Theory, which originated in the 1970s, has become one of the most predominant theoretical models in the field of domestic violence (Mcphail, Busch, Kulkarni & Rice, 2007; Smith, 1990). With that being said, the Feminist Theory is subjected to countless attacks and criticism by individuals who do not have an adequate understanding of what feminism really denotes (DeKeseredy, 2011). There are certain academics (e.g. Bumiller, 2008; Dutton, 2006), right-wing father’s groups, and political counter movements that believe that feminists detest men and are focused on only gaining more power than men in economic, political, and social spheres (DeKeseredy & Schwartz, 1996).

The Feminist Theory postulates that violence against women is not a private family matter but rather a pervasive social problem that calls for the restructuring of society to eradicate the power differences that allow men to abuse women (Gondolf & Fisher, 1988). Feminism can be described as:” a set of theories about women’s oppression and a set of strategies for change” (Daly & Chesney-Lind, 1988, p. 6). However, it is important to note that although early feminist studies revolved primarily around women, later feminism extended to include a commitment to achieve gender equality for both men and women (Hooks, 2000).

Feminists attribute the cause of intimate partner violence to the patriarchal structure of society that is responsible for forcing women, through the use of control tactics such as physical, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse, to remain submissive (Yllo & Bograd,

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1988; Dobash R. E. & Dobash R. P., 1979; Messerschmidt, 1993). Dobash R. E. & Dobash R. P. (1979), cited that patriarchal domination of women through abuse has its origin in the cultural history of legally sanctioned male subordination of women. Although it is no longer legal to abuse women the history of inequality is still evident in marriage/intimate

relationships as traditional gender roles and cultural prescriptions continue to exist (Marciniak, 1998; Sakalh, 2001, Simonson & Subich, 1999).

The feminist perspective maintains that violence against women is not part of the larger whole of family violence but a separate entity that should be studied on its own. Partner abuse has its own causes and properties and cannot be viewed in the same manner as other types of family violence (Dobash et al., 1979). Feminists believe that partner violence is basically a gender issue and thus cannot be understood through any other lens that does not include gender and power as the most important components of analysis (DeKeseredy & Dragiewicz, 2007). The feminist perspective proclaims that the basis of intimate partner violence is male supremacy and not family conflict or conflict of personal interests (Yllo, 1993).

In summary, the preceding section highlighted some of the most prominent theories that offer explanations for the occurrence of domestic violence. It is evident that scientists differ

substantially in their delineation of the causes of domestic violence and that all of the above theories have merit and that none of the theories are completely right or wrong.

The current study is primarily based on Ecological Theory as I deem it to be the most

appropriate for my research topic. Ecological Theory focusses on variables that can instigate domestic violence at the individual, family, social-structural, and sociocultural levels. It was therefore my aim to take an in-depth evaluation of the psychosocial risk factors that

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contribute to domestic violence in Tshwane, South Africa. I furthermore attempted to understand women’s reality and lived experiences from their own points of view.

2.8 Conclusion

The review of the literature made it abundantly clear that domestic violence is a universal phenomenon affecting many women all over the world. The literature described some of the most prevalent psychosocial risk factors of domestic violence and the cause and effects thereof. It was also argued that men are primarily found to be the perpetrators and women the victims of domestic violence. However, there is a paucity of research surrounding the

psychosocial risk factors that contribute to domestic violence specifically in South Africa. This study therefore attempted to identify select psychosocial risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of domestic violence against women in Tshwane, South Africa.

The following chapter discusses the research design that is used in this study. It also

highlights the manner in which the research was approached, the methods of data collection and analysis that were used.

51 CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH DESIGN

You cannot emerge a whole human being

when you escape someone who constantly beats you

and berates you physically, emotionally

and spiritually . . . until that searing of the soul has been

attended to. . . There is something that

happens to the psyche. The wholeness of the

individual must be looked at. . . They must

begin to understand what has happened to

them, and why. ~ Survivor of domestic violence

3.1 Introduction

The primary purpose for conducting this research was to describe South African women’s, experiences with domestic violence and to identify the psychosocial risk factors that were associated with the occurrence thereof. The aim of the study was to add to the growing body of knowledge of domestic violence against women in Tshwane, South Africa. The research study sought to analyse domestic violence from an angle whereby collected data were explored to find risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of violent incidents.

Before the start of the interview process, it was my initial aspiration to interview women who were victims of domestic violence around risk factors such as alcohol and drug abuse,

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exposure to childhood domestic violence, and personality factors. During the interview process additional risk factors such as pregnancy, cultural differences, and socio-economic factors were accentuated as possible additional causes for domestic violence in the

participants’ intimate relationships.