Essay On Sociological Perspective Of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a specific kind of violence that is being committed by any individual within his or her domestic circle of the victim. Immediate family members and relatives as well as friends are responsible for such violence majorly (Fisher et al. 2022). This type of violence can involve violence against children, elder persons and even parents. The Australian society has been observing such cases for several years and it is needed to eradicate them on a top level priority. A sociological perspective can be considered for understanding the issue of domestic violence in the Australian society and this essay will be providing a brief discussion of this specific issue.

 

 

Domestic violence occurs in a domestic setting and it is being committed by one of the individuals in a close relationship against the other individual. It could also take place in cohabitation and marriage. It could assume several forms like physical, emotional, verbal, economic, and religious and many more (Baig et al. 2022). The involvement of technology is also considered for harassment, controlling, monitoring, stalking or even hacking. Domestic murder involves honor killing, dowry death and bride burning.

 

 

The Australian society has been facing domestic violence cases for several years and as per the data of 2020, more than 54% of the recorded assaults were eventually related to domestic or family violence. It was a 7.8% increment from the statistics of 2019. 37% of the recorded murders were also associated with domestic violence and the largest numbers of victims are in Victoria and New South Wales (Domestic and Family Violence Statistics in Australia. 2022). The sociological perspective plays a vital and significant role in understanding the entire aspect of domestic violence in Australia.

 

 

Resource theory states that the more resources like social support and money one possesses, the less likely one is to use violence. As a result, the government of Australia should focus on the sociological factors for reducing domestic violence from their country. For a few individuals, violence is a specific resource to be used when alternative resources are being depleted. The respective risk factors are distinctively linked to a higher likelihood or even partner violence perpetration (Mills 2000). These are termed as the contributing factors and the government or the individuals should focus on these factors for better results and effectiveness.

 

 

The individual risk factors that have been increasing the social issue of domestic violence in Australia are low income and education. Most of the cases registered for such violence have been identified for either of these two factors, in which the abuser did not have enough resources or education and hence the root causes are needed to be treated. Moreover, the excess usage of alcohol and drug uses is also termed as another vital reason for domestic violence in the states of the Australian society, in which using drugs has been a major issue for the youth generation. Anger and hostility are also responsible for initiating partner violence perpetration.

 

 

Although the unemployment rate in Australia is only 5.1% in 2021, economic crisis can lead to domestic violence and a few cases registered have pointed out this specific aspect for the country (Arup 2022). There are a few sociological theories that provide a clear idea of the perspective of domestic violence and these involve conflicts’ theory, structural functionalism and finally symbolic interactionism. Each of these theories eventually posits their own view on the prevention of domestic violence. From the sociological perspective, it is a socialized issue in the world and it has reached a distressing stage within the society.

 

 

As per the symbolic interactionism theory, domestic violence occurs when the partners in a specific relationship become a failure in understanding the symbols as well as meanings of each other. It is vital for these two partners to share these symbols and when there is a major disruption, this type of violence takes place (Sociological Perspectives of Domestic Violence. 2022). The second theory of social conflict theory states that domestic violence takes place within an intimate relationship, when one particular partner eventually possesses additional resources than the other individual for compensating one’s ego and the other partner resorts to violence. Lack of equality of resources is a major factor for initiating such conflicts. The final sociological theory is the structural functionalism theory, which states that domestic violence takes place when there would be a change of role in the relationship or family and the dominance of role or position is responsible for triggering such cases.

 

Hence, it can be concluded that domestic violence is based on the sociological theory of power theory, which states that any specific individual uses his or her power for dominating other individuals and it often leads to domestic violence or any other form of abuse. The Australian society has been facing several cases of domestic violence and most of them are not even registered or complained to the legal authorities. There are a few societal factors that eventually contribute to domestic violence and these include low self-esteem, low income or education, anger and hostility, alcohol and drug usage and a few others.

 

Arup, C 2022, ‘Liberty or protection? Making law for employment and social security’, Griffith law review, vol. ahead-of-print, no. ahead-of-print, Routledge, pp. 1–36.

 

 

Baig, LA, Ahmer, Z, Tariq, H, Arif, S & Sarwar, Z 2022, ‘Community members speak –“Why are healthcare personnel subjected to disrespect and violence?”’, Qualitative research journal, vol. 22, no. 3, Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 391–400. 

 

 

Domestic and Family Violence Statistics in Australia. 2022. [online]. Accessed from https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/domestic-and-family-violence-statistics#:~:text=Domestic%20and%20family%20violence%20in%20Australia%20statistics&text=Overall%2C%201%20in%205%20women,men%20have%20experienced%20sexual%20violence.&text=On%20average%2C%201%20woman%20a,a%20current%20or%20former%20partner. [Accessed on 19th July 2022].

 

 

Fisher, CA, Jones, S, Smyth, CB, Stokes, L, Cairns, G & Withiel, TD 2022, ‘Domestic and family violence knowledge and skills: A private mental health service survey of nurses, allied health, and medical clinicians’, International journal of mental health nursing, vol. 31, no. 4, Wiley Subscription Services, Inc, Richmond, pp. 952–961 

 

 

Mills, C.W., 2000. The sociological imagination. Oxford University Press.

 

 

Sociological Perspectives of Domestic Violence. 2022. [online]. Accessed from https://appliedworldwide.com/preventing-domestic-violence/ [Accessed on 19th July 2022].