Feminist Counseling Sakai conducted a survey on "violence
from husbands and partners," subsidized by Woman and Men's Jump Plan of Osaka
Prefecture, in 1997. We began by handing out about 3000 questionnaires through
assemblies, administrative offices, and private counseling rooms in the middle
of October 1997 and closed collection of responses in February 1998. We limited
the focus of the research to "those subjected to violence" and "those
who know victims." A total of 301 questionnaires were returned and we had
interviews with 18 of the women. The number of women who reported violence reached
229.
The reason for limiting this research was that an earlier domestic violence (DV)
study had been done in 1992. On the basis of that research, we intended to carefully
investigate the circumstances of the women subjected to violence, the influences
of violence on their mental well-being, and its relation to gender. We also intended
to break the prejudice that the victim herself is to be blamed, seen in such reference
as "co-dependence" or "women who love too much." In addition,
we hoped to find ways to support victims from the viewpoint of feminist counseling
and to learn what we could do in the future. For these reasons, the research included
inquiries about the women's consciousness of "self-respect" and "gender."
Our purpose was to grasp the DV problem not only in private relations between
couples but also in the frame of the power balance between men and women in the
structure of the society.
As for the kinds of violence, we classified them into five groups for convenience
(physical, mental, sexual, economic, and social violence ), but cases in which
all five groups overlapped amounted to 139 of the 229 cases reported. We also
found that violence occurs irregularly, with a trifle serving as the standard
trigger for a perpetrator's temper. This shows a structure of domination and subordination,
which insults women and gives them fear. It injures women both physically and
psychologically, and it has changed women's behavior in everyday life, encouraging
reactions like "I always watch his face " and "I became reluctant
to associate with people."
This research showed that 83% of the victims have consulted someone in one way
or another. Those subjected to violence keep crying out. This indicates that the
community has dealt with them wrongly and made them face the violence alone. With
the results of this research, we realize again that it is very important to break
the inaccurate convictions society has toward victims as well as to support them. |
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