What Economic And Social Factors Contribute To The Prevalence Of Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence In The United States?

Introduction

The major socio-economic factors contributing to prevalence of domestic violence in US include poverty, women’s power, and male identity. The risk of domestic violence and conflict results from women who are not socially protected and empowered both economically and educationally. In addition, drug abuse such as alcohol consumption is also associated with increased risk of domestic violence. This paper demonstrates the social and economic factors that contribute to domestic violence in United States.

Most relationships entangled by high poverty levels in the US have a higher likelihood of increased incidences of domestic violence. An influential theory illustrates that the stress results from the couple’s poverty leading to intimate partner violence. Poorer men in US have fewer resources to reduce stress hence stressful men have a higher risk of causing domestic violence (Jewkes p.1424). Besides, domestic violence occurs when a woman has the financial independence over her husband. Therefore, the economic inequality where a woman is working, and the husband is not conveys an additional risk to domestic violence (Jewkes pp.1424, 1425).

Male identity in US is infused with ideas of honor and respect hence increasing the risk of domestic violence as men. In particular, men’s violence against women is seen as an expression of male superiority and dominance over women within an intimate relationship. Moreover, the intimate relationship that is characterized by substance abuse and crime has increased incidences of domestic violence (Jewkes p.1424). However, researchers state that intimate partner violence is a social norm, which is social behaviour learned by men and women from one generation to another hence it is expected to occur within the intergenerational cycle. Therefore, the sons of women who are beaten have an increased likelihood of beating their intimate partners and vice versa (Jewkes p.1425).

Conclusion

Poverty, women’s power, male identity, and drug abuse are the major socio-economic factors that contribute to intimate partner violence in United States.

Work cited

Jewkes, R.  Violence against women III-Intimate partner violence: causes and prevention. Lancet 2002; 359:1423–29. Retrieved on 4^th November, 2014 from: http://www.ayamm.org/english/Violence%20against%20women%201.pdf

  Do you need high quality Custom Essay Writing Services?