여성의 가정폭력 가해 맥락에 관한 연구

Abstract

This study focuses on the increase of female attackers who receive judicial punishment while the majority of victims of domestic violence are still women. I interviewed female attackers to identify the complicated context of domestic violence by women. In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 female attackers who were ordered to be treated in the correction/healing program for domestic attackers to review their cases. In statements on domestic violence by women reported in the official reports for the judicial authority, I couldn't find much that would have been helpful for understanding the context of violence. The study result suggests that female attackers' violence was caused by a combination of 4 factors: Experience of violence as victims, the degree of acceptance of violence, stereotypes of traditional gender roles and vague ideas of the reality of marriages. The female attackers who participated in the study became violent after a long period of suppressing their anger, rather than abruptly. Violence was an act of reaction to violence of others, rather than a means to resolve conflicts. Therefore the developing process is not the same as that of male attackers. Unlike male attackers, who become violent more often than women and use violence to control women, female attackers' violence is a resistance to a violent situations rather than a means to control men. This study raises questions on the general view in which the context of domestic violence by men and women is considered the same and suggests that a higher degree of gender sensitivity would have to be applied regarding the context of domestic violence. The more intimate a relationship is, the more complicated and serious the context. Intimate relationships that take off our masks and reveal us in an unreserved manner can cause, reproduce and spread anger and violence in our society. We should prevent violence in intimate relationships by focusing on the cycle of violence. Since it was difficult to gain subjects for this study, only 8 women participated in it; therefore, the results of this study cannot be generalized. It may have limits since it focuses on disclosing the stories of the participants. Few personal details were excluded to protect the privacy of the participants.