Violence against ex‐wives

Anger and advocacy

Bibliographic Data

ID15217993
AuthorsAnne Mcmurray (0000-0003-0178-1972, Griffith University, corresponding author)
Year1997
Volume18
Issue6
Pages543-556
Publication date1997-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Care For Women International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0739-9332 • E-ISSN: 1096-4665
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/07399339709516310
PMID9416038
OpenAlexW2028289637
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited26

Researchers on violence against women have failed to reveal any studies that provide definitive explanations for the violent behaviors of certain males. However, violence against women has been known to occur as a result of unusually potent situational stressors, regardless of the male's propensity toward violence. Some of these situational stressors occur during the process of marital separation and divorce, particularly in relation to disputes over child custody, support, and access. In this paper I report on a second-level analysis of a set of studies in Australia aimed at examining the experience of separating parents who did not gain custody of their children. One of the dominant themes that emerged in the initial analysis from the male cohort was the real or vicarious violence that pervaded the men's interactions with their ex-spouses. These men, from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds and age groups, freely discussed episodes in which they had either planned, executed, or fantasized about violence against their spouses in retaliation for real or perceived injustices related to child custody, support, and/or access. In many cases, these thoughts and actions were reinforced by the encouragement of other males. To a lesser extent, women also reported violent inclinations induced by the situation. The implications for those advocating for women and families are clear. There is a need to understand the experience of marital separation from the perspective of both spouses as a basis for family counseling. We must also heighten awareness of the need to educate young people away from an "ownership" model of marriage and relationships, which is counterproductive to the personal development of both partners. Equally important is the need for all health professionals to advocate for changes that would help to correct injustices in the family court system, many of which are related to gender issues

Anger · Developmental psychology · Domestic violence · Medical emergency · Perspective (graphical · Poison control · Population · Situational ethics · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Stressor · Suicide prevention · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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