Essay on Women in the Workplace and Domestic Violence

Submitted By Sbirch1
Words: 901
Pages: 4

Capezza, N. M., & Ximena, A. B. (2008). “Why do people blame the victims of abuse? The role of stereotypes on women on perception of blame.” Springer Science Business Media, LLC., 59, 839-850. doi: 10.1007/s11199-008-9488-1 < Herb Thomas>

Summary: This research showed a growing trend in that if women are abused it is common to try to find ways to place the responsibility of the abuse on the victims. This study seeks to demonstrate some of the rational for this blame. The research focused on three pertinent themes of concern. Foremost it was important to answer the question as to why we as a society have this desire to blame the victims. Next it focused on addressing the abuse in the framework of the issue of verbal offenses and disparaging rhetoric which is used as a controller of the victim. Finally the research sought to understand the attitude of many of these abusers and their ideas that they are in some ways motivated to these harsh and belligerent behavior patterns.
It was shown that the mere nature of the woman was used to apply blame. If the victim of spousal abuse is a traditional devoted housewife and mother she was less likely to be held liable and in most cases more likely to be perceived as an innocent victim of a violent partner. This was not the case if the victim was a non-traditional wife who was working outside the home. In her case, she was more often viewed to be the cause in some way for her abuse. Why is it part of societies rational that inspires them to place blame on the innocent victim? The study found that working non-traditional women were more often blamed for the abuse as well as stronger more vocal women. Thus addressing societies stereotype that the modern career women is not as capable as the stay at home wife in preserving a nonviolent and established home life
Authors Notes: The examiners sought to focus on the abuse type of verbal assault because of the fact that limited studies have focused on this type of abuse. The Authors felt that this alternate method of abuse concerning; criticizing, humiliating, and its need to sequester the victim in a way that would allow the abuser a point of control and power over the victim needed to be put under greater scrutiny. This form of abuse being the more prevalent and common form has still been less focused upon by researchers. The research showed that many severe issues result for the victims of this type of abuse. Many victims of this type of a psychological attack will suffer with anxiety, depression, and in some cases post-traumatic stress disorder.
It was noted that this need does exist within our society and we try to discern ways to place the blame of verbal abuse on the victims. The research focused on some of the motives behind this blame. Why in society do these stereotypes exist and what drives this desire to place guilt? The Author noted that the need to place blame was related in some ways to the type of women was to be blamed. A conventional devoted housewife and mother would be blamed less. The stay at home housewife was more likely to be observed as a innocent injured party to a cruel and violent husband. This was not so for the modern working wife and