Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Women’s use of force, voices of women arrested for domestic violence
Other Titles:	Violence against women
Authors:	Meloy, Michelle L Miller, Susan L
Keywords:	Perpetrators;Criminal justice responses
Year:	2006
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	12 (1), January 2006
Notes:	This US article looks at the increase in women arrested and mandated to batterer treatment programmes which resulted in changes in law enforcement policies that encouraged or mandated arrest of domestic violence offenders. Research suggests that intimate partner violence is gendered with power and control exerted by the men over the female partners, so that when women use violence, it is in self-defence. Few studies have investigated the female batterer treatment programmes and the context of the women’s use of violence. This study examines women’s interpretations of their violent experiences by using qualitative data from observations of 3 female domestic violence offender programmes in the US. It profiles 3 different categories of violent behaviour used by women in the treatment groups: (i) generalised violent behaviour (women who used violence in many circumstances such as against neighbours, other family members, strangers); (ii) frustration response behaviour; and (iii) defensive behaviour. The first category (generalised violent behaviour) accounted for the smallest number of women (5) or about 5% of the programme’s total clients. The nature of their violence differed from that associated with batterers, who use violence to get the partner to do something, operate with a sense of entitlement and use violence as a way to punish or control a partner. The women in the first category did not have control or power over their targets, and were not able to control or change anyone’s behaviour, and the victims also did not fear them. The second category (frustration response behaviour) comprised 30% of the women. These women had histories of domestic abuse, and reacted violently when nothing else stopped their partner’s violent behaviour. The women’s use of force suggests a playing-out of patterns, which they learned as a reaction to conflict. They use violence as an expressive tool to show their frustration. The third category (defensive behaviour) made up the majority (65%) of women. They used force when they were trying to get away. When they perceived their children were in danger, they acted violently to try to stop the partner’s violence. Gender neutrality offered by arrest policies may then become gendered injustice as women who are not batterers end up being arrested. Women in treatment took responsibility for their behaviour whereas men tend to minimise or deny their violent behaviour. Policy questions about the appropriateness of such programmes, the costs and benefits of a criminal justice approach to women’s use of violence in intimate relationships are posed.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/12599
ISSN:	1077-8012
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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