Mary Ann Dutton- Domestic Violence

Dutton's review of "Battered Woman Syndrome" examines the ways in which women respond to situations of domestic violence. There are numerous explanations explaining why women remain in situations of domestic abuse such as; lack of social support, lack of economic resources, fear of increased abuse, emotional/physical vulnerabilities, emotional attachment. Dutton refers to battered women syndrome as a "learned helplessness" meaning that women often are unaware of the options they have. Unfortunately many women in domestic violence situations are led to believe they have no other options.

Dutton talks about how women who live in low class neighborhoods often fear calling the police, not only because of their spouse but also because of their community. A structural functionalist could claim that because police have a negative stereotype in certain communities, women are subjected to abuse without help from the legal system. These different institutions directly affect each other. The labor market and family also directly affect each other. Women often remain in violent relationships because they can not provide enough to support themselves as well as their children. Women are socialized to feel that they must take care and provide for their children emotionally as well as physically. This often leads to many women forgiving their partners.

I am grateful I have never been in a situation or witnessed abuse. I can't imagine how hard it would be to feel like you had no where to go or no one to talk to. It makes me sad that so many women are victims of abuse. Abuse has occurred for centuries dating back to when women were regarded as property. Those patterns have been engrained into society and helps explain why so many women are victims of domestic violence.