Domestic Violence against Spouse

1.0       Introduction

Malaysia is a developing country that has always been strongly against any forms of violence because it is acknowledge as serious social issue that can cause a “shameful” violation of human rights. However, nowadays it is becoming more evident that domestic violence is one of the marriage issues that should be taken into serious matter and an immediate action due to the rising number of cases. As reported in Borneo Post Online (2013), domestic violence cases is on the rise in Malaysia since 2010 where the prevalence of violence by intimate partner revealed that there were 3173 reported cases involving 2522 women and 650 men being the victims. Studies indicated that violence happened at least once in two-thirds in marriage, and roughly around 95% of the victims involving in domestic violence are wives (Nor Azilah, n.d).

According to Bragg (2003), domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive and assault behaviors that include physical, sexual, verbal, and psychological attacks and economic abuse that an individual use against his or her intimate partner. Domestic violence also can be described as a pattern of physically, sexually, and emotionally abusive behaviors that a person use in order to assert power or maintain his or her control over another person in the context of an intimate or family relationship (Department of Criminal Justice Services, 2013).

Domestic violence is basically perceived as women issue since they are the vulnerable victim. However, latest research indicated that men also can be a victim of abuse which indirectly indicated that women are also capable of doing violence against her intimate partner or spouse. As reported in Women’s Aid Organisation (2012), women population showed the highest percentage that seeking shelter and protection due to violence that happened in their marriage. In addition, women Development Department (JPW) (as cited in Dora & Halim, 2011, p 157) has recorded that counseling sessions since 2008 were mostly attended by wives who facing domestic violence and abuse cases. Therefore, men is the main perpetrator that often contributes to domestic violence cases in marriage relationship (Dora & Halim, 2011).

According to Rohrbaugh (2006), there are common characteristics of abuser that can be identified such as over dependency of emotional on the intimate partner, over controlling behaviour, extreme jealousy, substance abuse, tendency to breaks or strikes things when in anger state, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’s personalities, use force in sex, spiritual and misuse of privilege.

2.0       Types of Abuse in Domestic Violence

According to Ja’afar, Rahim, Ahmad and Ismail (2006), there are a few common types of abuse usually occur in domestic violence which takes in form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse, using privilege, isolation, and intimidation. As for physical abuse, the abuser injures his or her spouse through slapping, punching, shoving, burning, kicking and throwing objects at the victim. In addition, physical abuse also can be indicated when the abuser scratches, bites, grabs, shakes, strangles or burns the victim, locks her in or out of the house, and refuses to help when the victim is sick (Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse, 2012).

As mentioned by Ja’afar et.al (2006), sexual abuse occurs when the perpetrators forcing his or her spouse to engage in sexual activities against her will. Besides that, her spouse is also purposely attack the physical or her sexual body parts and also preventing her from using birth control or safer sex practices. As for the psychological abuse is any threats carried out with the intention to humiliate, intimidate, blackmail, humiliation, and threatening to take the children away.

For the aspect of emotional abuse, it is closely related to all intentional attempts to minimize her concerns and to make her feel bad and often humiliating her in front of family and friends. Meanwhile, economic abuse is about creating financial dependence and also taking her money or saving against the will of the other spouse. Moreover, some of the spouse especially the husband misuse his privilege as “Head of The Family” to treat his wife badly. For isolation abuse can be defined as controlling and limiting what the other spouse does, where she or he goes, who she or he sees, and also preventing the partner from seeing family members and even socialize with friends. Intimidation abuse takes place when the abuser makes the victim fear using looks, gestures, verbal and actions. In worse cases is when the husband and wife or neither one as the abuser might damaging his or her partner’s property by punching holes in the walls, breaking down the doors and even use weapons to commit the violence act against victim. 

  

3.0       Factors contribute to domestic violence against spouse

There are many causes of domestic violence against spouse. Factor contributes to such circumstance often link with history experiences that the person gone through during childhood where the abuser growing up in a violent and an abusive household environment. Either witness domestic abuse or being a victim of abuse in their own homes can have a negative impact where the children will have much higher risk to grow up as violent adult who distrust others especially in intimate relationship and also weakens the abuser’s ability to control emotions (Goldsmith, 2015). This will make him or her to become hostile, aggressive and experience the difficulty to develop and maintain healthy relationship with his or her spouse because the abuser use forms of violence in order to resolve marriage conflicts or issues due to his or her past experience during childhood who have regarded such patterns of conflict resolution (United Nation Children’s Fund, 2000).

Besides that, domestic violence also occur among married couple when they experience low level of financial strain. According to Dora and Halim (2011), economic status forces such as insufficient salary to support high cost of living and family expenditure will likely generates frustration and emotional pressure among the marital couple especially among unemployed couple, spouse who has low income, spouse do not give any help with family expenses and when wives like to demand materials from husband. In fact, a men feels more superior of their roles as husbands which cause them to take earning or saving of their wives and neglect the responsibility by refuse to give money for household expenses and this lead to emotional violence (Hove, 2011). Such circumstance is somewhat associates to what the feminist theorist has stated, where a men uses domestic violence as a way to exert power and control over their partners (Peters, Shackelford, Buss, 2002). Without economic independence and financial resources, women as wives are seen powerless compared than husband to escape from an abusive intimate relationship because they are more vulnerable to be the victims of domestic violence. In fact, some husband purposely prevent their wives to work and this makes the wife unable to leave the abusive marriage with no money and being unemployed (Nor Azilah, n.d)

According to Goetz (2010), domestic violence against spouse particularly on wives happen due to jealousy and insecurity where the husband feels suspicious towards the wife for being unfaithful or is planning to break off the intimate relationship. The psychological theories of such cases are linked to personality traits and mental characteristics where the abuser are usually characterized by burst of anger impulsively, poor impulse control and poor self-esteem. Therefore, the abuser use violence as a threat to in order to ensure his power as a men as well as to overcome the jealousy and uncertainty feeling.

4.0       Consequences of domestic violence against spouse           

Domestic violence gives significant impact on physical health and well-being of the spouse who becomes a victim and the implication may varies depending on types of violence. As stated by Campbell (2002), physically abuse or the battering spouse are more likely to suffer physical injuries such as cuts, bruises, fractures due to physical assault done by their husband or wife which could take place in the form of slaps, punches, kicks, choke up, burning that require medical attention and even worse assaulting the spouse with dangerous weapon and homicide. This indirectly led to psychological consequences of violence which also can be as serious as physical effect such as self-blame, feeling hopeless, depression, anxiety, extreme intense, post-traumatic stress disorder and desire to commit suicide (World Health Organization, 2000).

As reported in Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (2000), the abuse victim also experienced a variety of emotions and side implications. For instance, the confusion either to stay or leave are influenced by mixed of emotion such as love, good memories and religion or value belief that a husband is the head of family whom a wife should obey to will likely put the victim in dilemma situation and somewhat some are unable to leave the violent relationship as well as refuse or reluctant to seek for help despite in constant fear that the abuser could become more hostile. Domestic violence also can contributes to divorce cases where spouse who experienced abuse in their marriage life increase the number of attended counseling session, court and eventually end up with divorce (Dora & Halim, 2011)

 

5.0       Conclusion

Domestic violence is a serious matter that should be taken an immediate action as it can negatively impact the spouse as the victim who is in highly risk to experience serious mental health impairments and also affecting the well-being of the victim involved. This issue also give long term impact on quality of life and daily functioning of the abuse spouse. In fact, the presence of continuous violence in marriage also give significant impact and may lead to serious risk and harm towards the whole family institution. This bring to the concern and safety not solely on the spouse but also to the children. For example, well-being and upbringing development of the children are negatively affected because they witness the violence occurs in their homes such as a mother being beaten by the abusive father.

Thousands of spouse regardless of gender, different class, background, races and religion are experiencing domestic violence in our daily community and sadly, most of the victim suffer in silence because they do not know on how to reach for help and get support. Therefore, it is very crucial for every people to notice and acknowledge either the warning signs or symptoms of domestic violence as a precaution and also to take further action in order to stop it. For the spouse who become the victim of domestic violence, both should know and aware the available resources on where to seek help and protection when face such cases. For instance, 28 safe houses which called as Rumah Nur and also known as House of Light, can be found all over in Malaysia are provided by The Welfare Department as a protection to give temporary shelter and protection to victims of abuse.