Due to the pandemic covid19, many reports of domestic violence have increased globally. Due to the compulsory lockdown, families spend more time at home, which has caused conflicts among spouses, resulting in negative consequences. Domestic violence can be interpreted as intentional acts or acts such as physical, psychological, and sexual abuse by partners in an intimate relationship and may cause injury. For example, coercion or unconstitutional deprivation of liberty in public or private life and the possible physical violence. The updated statistic of domestic violence in 2019 indicated 2,313 incidents of physical violence, almost 80% of the total cases, accompanied by 311 instances of psychological abuse and 20 instances of sexual abuse, while 276 instances contained multiple forms of abuse. In all the cases, 84.2 % of the victims were women. However, there is a lack of complete statistics to count all the domestic violence cases. Many cases are not reported to the police force or any social service as some victims choose to tolerate the husband’s behaviors. Only 4% of violent cases are reported to social services in Hong Kong. Various forms of abuse occur among family members like child abuse, spousal abuse, and elderly abuse; it can be referred to as family violence. Moreover, there are different types of abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and financial abuse. Physical abuse involves the intentional act of causing injury and trauma to another person. Sexual abuse is the force of unwanted sexual activity, while psychological abuse threatens the victim’s self-worth and self-esteem or controls the victim’s freedom. Also, economic abuse refers to the control of a partner’s access to economic resources.
In this passage, we focus on violence against women and, more specifically, on wife abuse in Hong Kong. This issue has been overlooked and neglected for many years, even not strike a chord after numerous women abuse cases. Domestic violence is not just a person or even a family issue, but a problem that can have negative effects on society. Wife abuse is not a private problem but a public issue that society should face directly and seriously and solve by concrete action instead of muddle along with the issue.
Wife abuse involved multiple factors and different perspectives or angles in investigating it. This paper will illustrate such factors in the following paragraphs, combined with feminist theories and more in particular focus on Walby’s theory on patriarchy as well as talk over this social problem has severe and far-reaching impacts on the victims, the family, and even the society when we investigate it deeper. Furthermore, the paragraph below will connect with the cases of wife abuse in Hong Kong and exemplify the cause and inadequacy reflected from the cases.
Factors and causes of women Abuse In Hong Kong
Different cases may have particular direct causes, but there is a deep rooted cause shared by all. There is an unequal distribution of power among men and women, which causes dominance and discrimination against women (Yuhong, 2000). Acceptance of domestic violence illustrates women’s subordinate position in the family and society, and this unequal relationship can be explained from historical, economic, and social perspectives. One factor of domestic violence against women is the traditionally male-dominated culture in China (Yuhong, 2000). China’s traditional system developed doctrines that subordinate women under their male counterparts (Yuhong, 2000). One element that has bound Chinese women for a long time is still being practiced and rooted in many people’s beliefs is referred to as “three obediences” (San cong). This means that a woman is required to “obey her father before marriage,” “obey her husband during her married life,” “obey her husband during her married life,” and “obey her sons in widowhood” (Yuhong, 2000). As such, women’s role and status in the traditional Chinese family deny them freedom and rights. Due to this reason, the traditional male superiority guides the behavior of men, and they view it as their right to solve domestic disputes through violence (Yuhong, 2000). Additionally, although there has been an awakening of awareness of gender equality in modern China, domestic violence is not regarded as a social and legislative issue as it consists of private matters. Therefore, the traditional system is one of the major factors and causes of domestic violence against women.
Another factor and cause is economic inequality. Economic inequality between men and women strengthens the male view of power and authority within the family (Yuhong, 2000). In the areas where women have no income, they have to face and relate different kinds of abuse from their husbands. Additionally, women in urban areas are also are not free from abuse due to economic inequality. The current economic reforms have caused redundancy in the economy resulting in the firing of mostly women workers. Hence, without income, their role in the family is downgraded, and they occasionally face domestic violence (Yuhong, 2000). However, this situation can change if women can participate in production on a large scale because it would increase women’s economic independence and liberation. Failure to achieve this women will likely suffer physical abuse in the home.
The social status in the family is another cause and factor in domestic violence. Chinese women remain fixed in the patriarchal society where inequality based on gender is rampant. Besides, the unequal power is illuminated and reinforced by women’s discrimination in employment and education. To put this into context, 70% of women in China are deemed to be illiterate. In that sense, most peasant families deny their children education as they perceive it to be a waste of money. This cycle and belief that women are subordinate to their male counterparts begin when they are born in society. This extends entirely in the form of deprivation of opportunities and education and climaxes in the family as the woman remains subordinate to her husband. Therefore, such situations in the family will likely cause domestic violence as women carry the subordinate status.
Case Study: Tin Shui Wai Family Tragedy
In this case, a family tragedy occurred on 11 April 2004 in Tin Shui Wai where three members included a mother and two young children killed in the incident. The father later died the same year. The tragedy involves the mother known as Jin and Father Li, and both were married, giving birth to two daughters in mainland China. At some point, Li was involved in an accident and thus was unable to work. In that sense, the comprehensive social security assistance paid Li’s money, and part of it was used for family expenditure. As life continued, Jin reported to the Social Welfare Department that Li assaulted their two daughters and purchased two knives for an unknown purpose. Jin continued to seek help from social workers, councilors, and the police. As a result, Jin started living in temporary accommodation in a women’s home. However, after some time, the social workers, police, and school teachers concluded that there was insufficient evidence of sexual abuse allegations. Therefore she returned to her home together with her two daughters. After some time, Li started threatening Jin through messages, but the police saw that Jin and her daughters were not in immediate danger; hence the police denied her escort. Eventually, Jin returned home, and Li murdered her and her daughters, which brought a public concern.
Sylvia Walby’s Theory
In this theory, the concept of patriarchy is applied to understand feminism in society. She posits that six patriarchal structures define women’s roles and how women are restricted, and the male gender maintains domination. The existence of these structures restricts women’s freedom and rights more than men. One of the structures is paid work, which posits that paid employment remains a critical element for discriminating against or disadvantaging women (Thomson, 2017). In the contemporary world, men still dominate the best-paid jobs while women are paid less and more part-time work. Another structure is household production, which illustrates that men benefit from unpaid work, such as housework and childcare (Thomson, 2017). The third structure is culture, and it involves the role of culture in society, which consistently distinguishes the behavior of men and women (Thomson, 2017). The critical sign of femininity in women is sexual attractiveness today. The fourth structure is sexuality, which presents the double standard in society, and most men condemn women who are sexually active and degrade those who are not sexually active. It consists of a patriarchal structure where pressure is applied towards women to offer males through marriage (Thomson, 2017). The fifth structure is violence, where it is viewed as a form of male control of women, which presents many problems today. The last structure is the state, which is deemed to be patriarchal, racist, and capitalist. The state has done very little to improve women’s position in society and legislation, focusing on equal opportunities are rarely enforced (Thomson, 2017).
Theory Application in the Case of Tin Shui Wai Family Tragedy
Different feminists posit that patriarchy is the main driving force that causes spousal abuse. In line with the spousal abuse, patriarchy exists in varying degrees in many cultures regardless of which, and generally, people have accepted it as part of their life. One structure in Walby’s theory that applies in the Tin Shui Family Tragedy is paid work, a tool for discrimination against women. In the scenario where Li is involved in an accident and receives social security funds, he uses part of it to fund family activities. Li, at some point, becomes violent and starts becoming violent. The second structure that can be applied is culture as most as Li may have deemed himself dominant as the culture dictates, and thus the woman has to do all the things the man says. Besides, violence is another element applied in the family tragedy, as most men view it as a way of controlling women. Eventually, the state plays a critical role in violence against women. In this case study, Jin frequently reports to the social services, the councilors, and the police, who later indicate that there is no enough evidence that Jin receives sexual harassment and threats from Li. The tragedy raised many queries from the public about how family problems should be handled by the social welfare department and the police. In that sense, the state (police and social welfare department) acts as a patriarchal system towards women, and therefore, women should stay at home and submit to their husbands.
After almost ten years since the murder of the mother and the daughters, the state has not improved in handling family violence. Different groups have continued to criticize the government in handling domestic violence cases as police are increasingly and deliberately avoiding domestic violence cases (Theorizing patriarchy, 1953). However, the state is not solely to blame but also the society because of its systematic cultural discrimination towards the poor or immigrants mothers. Additionally, the attitude of family, friends and counselors, police, workers, and pastors have an essential influence on societal reinforcement of domestic violence (Theorizing patriarchy, 1953).
Impacts of Domestic Violence
One of the impacts of domestic violence is the violation of women’s rights. In most cases, it causes physical and emotional suffering. In the patriarchal society, women would rather tolerate violence than walking out as they regarded divorce as an abomination in Chinese society (Yuhong, 2000). Another impact is broken families due to divorce (Yuhong, 2000). In the past, divorce was not allowed in China, but in the 1980s, a new law has eased that stance. As a result, more women are now open to divorce, which results in broken families. Lastly, children become silent victims. Such children who grow in a domestic violence family suffer emotional and developmental problems (Yuhong, 2000). Additionally, they avoid being in relationships as they fear being in the same situation.
The usefulness of the Theory
Walby’s theory on women’s role helps in understanding the various structures that may lead to inequality in families. Such inequalities explain why women receive discrimination from men and the factors that can help identify this issue. The theory unifies cultural, economic, and political perspective that influences feminism in society. Therefore, the theory illuminates the problem from a wider perspective, which is critical in educating the public on the causes of domestic violence and inequality of the female and male gender.
Conclusion
Conclusively, women’s abuse in Hong Kong has been on the rise since the past. Discrimination and violence due to the patriarchal society have influenced inequality between men and women. This is because society still feels that women belong at home and should submit to the man. However, Walby’s theory explains violence in women through six structures: work pay, household production, culture, sexuality, violence, and the state. These structures indicate the reasons why most women face violence. But mostly, these structures are based on the patriarchal nature of society. This theory is applicable in the case of Tin Shui Wai Family Tragedy, where a mother and her two daughters were killed. Violence against women can have various impacts: physical and emotional abuse, broken families, and devastated children. Therefore, abuse against women should be dealt with at the societal and government levels through effective interventions that promote feminism and eliminate inequality.