Tough economic times create family and community stress that could increase rates of domestic violence, says Deborah Weissman, Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law and director of the UNC School of Law Clinical Program. Weissman says this is a moment when innovative thinking about the impact of job loss on families could help protect vulnerable people from domestic violence. Her essay, "Domestic Violence in the Postindustrial Household," is included as a chapter in the textbook "Violence Against Women in Families and Relationships" (Praeger 2009) edited by Evan Stark and Eve Buzawa.
Weissman argues that prescribed gender roles emphasizing that men must be the breadwinner for their families remain in place despite the advances that women have made toward equity in the workplace. This belief adds to the stress and conflict for men who are faced with unemployment or underemployment, and that stress contributes to domestic violence.
"When men cannot fulfill the breadwinner role, they often feel like failures," says Weissman. "That is not an excuse for domestic violence, but it helps us understand what increases risks for communities and families for whom domestic violence is an issue, and understanding this can help us develop more effective prevention."
Weissman wrote a longer article, "The Personal is Political-And Economic: Rethinking Domestic Violence" on the subject two years ago. It was published in the Brigham Young Law Review, and it drew the attention of the book's editors. Weissman says anecdotal stories heard during her year as chair of the North Carolina Commission on Domestic Violence contributed to the development of her argument.
"Economic strain disproportionately affects certain people because of their gender and socioeconomic status," says Weissman. "I think we have a chance to consider an innovative use for economic stimulus money that could help support programs that provide training for people who have lost their jobs in a context that recognizes the risk of domestic violence."
Weissman says she is planning an analysis of data from select North Carolina counties to understand the relationship between sudden changes in employment status and rates of domestic violence.
"There is something about the shock and new insecurity that pulls the rug out from under people," says Weissman. "Jobs are key. We know that when perpetrators of domestic violence are employed, that reduces the risk of domestic violence homicides."
In her essay, Weissman proposes several areas in which domestic violence prevention programs could be developed, including a better use of the transitional work assistance programs available to people who have lost their jobs, the development of regulations to prevent employers from destabilizing entire communities by closing facilities and the creation of programs for offenders that allow them to rehabilitate while continuing to support their families.
-October 14, 2009