published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Little research has addressed the degree to which domestic violence is mutual and whether patterns are stable across women's relationships. Studies that exist have conflicting results. This study addressed these issues and the effects of sustaining past violence on women's expressions of violence in their current relationship. Archival data from a sample of severely psychologically abused community women (N = 92) and a sample of low-income community women (N = 836) were analyzed. Results showed the presence of mutual violence in women's current relationships which was not related to past partners' violence. Results regarding the stability of violence are weak, but indicate that the frequency and severity of violence across relationships sustained by women does not decrease across relationships. Overall, results supported the hypothesis that violence is mutual in the relationships of community women, although specific patterns may differ by ethnicity.

Although numerous studies examining variables related to child abuse have been done in recent years, little is known about how abusing parents perceive their abused children's attitudes and behaviors. The present study attempted to examine parental perceptions of personality characteristics of children as a function of whether the parent abused the child. The Personality Inventory for Children (PIC) was utilized to obtain parental perceptions of their children's attitudes and behaviors. Twenty parents consisting of 10 abusers and 10 nonabusers were contacted through social agencies. Parents and children were matched for age, sex, and race. Of the 16 personality variables studied, only one significantly differentiated the two groups. Abused children were perceived as significantly more withdrawn than the nonabused matched sample. Results of this study suggest that various personality types are involved in the abusive cycle. Further research is needed to explore this promising area.

M.Ed. / Sexual molestation is a worldwide evil that affects all aspects ,of a child's humanity. It is stated that one out of every four girls and one out of every nine boys in South Africa are exposed to sexual molestation before they reach adulthood. Approximately 75 % of these molestations are committed by people who are well-known to the child and who occupy a position of trust. A disturbed educational relationship deprives a child of actively participating in his own development. It leaves him with a low sense of self-worth so that he feels negative and overwhelmed by the future. Childhood events have an influence on the developing adult and his future thought- and conduct-patterns. It is postulated that, should traumatic events disrupt the normal life cycle, destructive conduct-patterns develop that are detrimental to the individual as well as the broader community. The intervention of the educational psychologist is therefore necessary to break this destructive pattern. Consequently this research was aimed at learning about and understanding the life-world of the sexually molested child. An exploratory, descriptive, contextual and qualitative approach was followed to compile this information. In this research phenomenological interviews and projective techniques were used to involving six children, between the ages of ten and fifteen who were victims of sexual molestation. After the interviews had been recorded on audiotape and transcribed, and the drawings analyzed, the themes were identified and ordered. The results brought the following manifested experiences to light: shame due to own low self-worth; guilt due to a nagging conscience; fury due to violent conduct and humiliation; anxiety and pain due to fear of repetition and disappointment in mankind; distorted perceptions of the future due to deficient guidance by adults. Guidelines for the guidance of sexually molested children by the educational psychologist are discussed in accordance with the above mentioned themes, while Garbers' educational model is also referred to. It is clear that sexual molestation has extensive implications for its victims. It is however believed that these children can achieve personal insight, true healing and maximum inner potential, through the compassionate guidance of the educational psychologist.

余仲虹. / "2003年4月30日" / 論文 (神道學碩士)--香港中文大學, 2003. / 參考文獻 (leaves 39-43) / 附中英文摘要. / "2003 nian 4 yue 30 ri" / Yu Zhonghong. / Lun wen (shen dao xue shuo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2003. / Can kao wen xian (leaves 39-43) / Fu Zhong Ying wen zhai yao. / 引言 --- p.1 / Chapter 第一章： --- 鳥瞰香港被虐婦女的情況 --- p.3 / Chapter 第二章： --- 社會建構對兩性等級性關係的認可 --- p.12 / Chapter 第三章： --- 基督宗教是釋放者抑或共犯 --- p.21 / Chapter 第四章： --- 從「正確關係」(Right Relation)的神學探索 --- p.28 / 總結 --- p.38 / 參考書目 --- p.39

Hui Sio Ieng. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-167). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter 1: --- "Introduction The Narrative Identities Of Abused Women In Hong Kong ´ؤHow Do They Articulate Their Past, Present, and Future?" --- p.1 / Literature Review / A Few Words about Myself and AH / Methodology / Organization of The Thesis / Chapter Chapter 2: --- What Is Special About AH? ´ؤUnderstanding AH In The Context Of the Larger Hong Kong Society --- p.32 / The Cultural Expectation And Status of Hong Kong Women / The Cultural Image And Social Position Of Abused Women in Hong Kong / About AH / Conclusion / Chapter Chapter 3: --- How does AH Resocialize Its Members? ´ؤThree Levels Of Identity Reconstruction In AH --- p.60 / Hiu Man's Story / Mandy's Story / Analysis / Conclusion / Chapter Chapter 4: --- "How Members Accept, Contest Or Reject AH's Ideology?" --- p.89 / Ah Wai's Story / Ah Yee's Story / Analysis / Conclusion / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Social Relationships In AH --- p.110 / The Ideal Social Structure And Ideological Milieu Of AH / Sally's Story / Ah Ling's Story / Analysis / Conclusion / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Conclusion Is AH's Identity Reconstruction Successful? --- p.130 / "Narratives, Self-Identity And Cultural Construction" / "The Narrative Identity of ""Abused Women"" in AH's term" / The Successful Aspects of AH's identity Reconstruction / The Unsuccessful Aspects Of AH's identity Reconstruction / What Have We Learned From AH's Identity Reconstruction? / Appendix --- p.151 / Bibliography --- p.154

This report presents findings from a comparative qualitative study conducted in the Johannesburg inner city. The study sought to understand immigrant and South African heterosexual men’s perceptions, experiences, and responses to domestic violence. Drawing on social constructionist theory, the research investigates whether migration and nationality influenced how heterosexual men perceived, experienced, and responded to domestic violence. The study used qualitative methodology and relied on original empirical research. In total, participants (consisting of six immigrant and six South African men) were identified through purposive and snowballing sampling methods. Semi-structured interview guides were used to collect data, which was then analysed using thematic content analysis. Findings of the study revealed that migration influenced the way in which immigrant men experienced and responded to domestic violence in South Africa. However, migration did not have an impact on how immigrant men perceived domestic violence. This means that the ways in which immigrant men perceived domestic violence was the same as they perceived it in their home countries. However, the ways in which they were experiencing and responding to it in South Africa was different from the ways they used to experience and respond in their home countries (migrant sending countries). The South African participants did not attribute their perceptions, experiences and responses to migration. Instead, they attributed their experiences to the over insistence on rights by women, and the failure of law enforcement agencies to ensure that men who are victims of domestic violence are also heard. Findings also revealed that nationality differences between immigrant men and South African men did not influence the ways in which these two groups perceived and understood the term ‘domestic violence’. Thus, migrant men and South African men understood the term in the same way. The definitions of domestic violence that participants reported were different from the traditional definitions and categorizations of domestic violence. Participants defined domestic violence in accordance with their perceptions and experiences, as there was a thin line between perceptions and personal experiences. Further analysis showed that men understood domestic violence as being physical, emotional, and verbal. The findings of the study also revealed that immigrant men believed that their susceptibility to domestic violence was due to migration because of the perception that South African domestic violence legislation favours women. Furthermore, South African men attributed ‘favouritism on terms of the law’ towards women as an issue that made women take advantage of the policy framework to initiate violence towards their intimate partners. These men suggest that women do this in the knowledge that men are generally not believed when they (i.e. men) make reports of domestic violence.

Thesis (M. A. (African Languages)) -- University of the North, 2004 / Refer to the document

Ten female survivors of physically assaultive domestic violence were interviewed three times each in a feminist, qualitative study designed to access their perceptions about their children's experiences in domestic violence. All participants had children living with them at the time of the abuse and were one to five years out of the abuse. All women stated their children had been exposed to domestic violence. Women described their children's involvement in the following areas: legal (visitation, custody, child support); indirect involvement (witnessing effects of abuse) and direct involvement (feeling responsible, protecting parents); and direct child maltreatment. Child maltreatment rates measured by homes were: physical (50%); sexual (20%); emotional (90%); and neglect (70%). No patterns were present regarding child involvement. That is, children's involvement did not progress in a clear pattern from indirect to direct. While all women protected their children in the relationship, four turning points were identified in a continuum of women's protective actions: child witnessed abuse to mom; mom saw signs in child; emotional abuse to the child; and physical or sexual abuse to the child. Turning points were the points at which the women recognized they could no longer protect their children within the context of the violent relationship. Unmarried women reached their turning point earlier while women whose church involvement dictated strict obedience to spouse and those who experienced the most severe physical abuse reached their turning points later. Turning points often corresponded with leaving the relationship and were related to both social context and individual variables. Perceptions of motherhood in domestic violence were also studied. Women cited their children as important influences in staying with, returning to, and leaving abusive partners. Women stayed in relationships because of socially conditioned beliefs about children needing fathers, beliefs about marriage and family, and perceptions of children's bonds with their fathers. Finally, women's perceptions of motherhood fell into four categories: protection of their children; conflict between roles as wife and mother; concern about meeting their children's needs; and guilt about mothering. The two women who prioritized the needs of their children over their abusive partners were spared some guilt. / Graduation date: 1999