Socialization is the process of transforming a child into a responsible individual aware of his or her roles and position in the society by educating them on the social norms, laws of the environment and customs. It promotes the holistic development of a child. It also helps the child learn how to relate to others by learning various aspects of communication as well as how to respect and appreciate others as well as their cultures (Crespi 3).
What are Gender Roles?
Gender roles are society norm sets that show what kind of behavior is accepted for a person based on their sex. Thus, these roles depend on whether one is male or female. Each gender has different roles that they play in the society (Crespi 3).
What is Gender Role Socialization?
It involves socialization of children into the roles of their gender and the understanding of what it means to be male or female. It begins at birth and its facilitators are family members, schools, media as well as the community. Socialization I childhood and early adolescence causes gender differences as each party has different genders and roles to play in the society (Crespi 4).
What is Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)?
Intimate Partner Violence involves instilling fear in a relationship through the use of forms of abuse and violence (Kaur & Gara 74). Intimate Partner Violence involves physical, sexual, and emotional abuse toward same sex or opposite sex relationship partners. Physical violence involves physical contact with force such as pushing, slapping and beatings. Sexual abuse involves forcing one to perform sexual acts they are unwilling to commit despite refusal. Emotional abuse involves ridiculing others, being offensive and degrading to them through the use of threats, restrictions and not showing affection (Capaldi, Knoble, Shortt & Kim 234).
How prevalent is IPV in the US and are there differences in the victimization of men and women?
IPV is quite common in the US especially among women. This prevalence among women is because they are quite vulnerable and are considered weak in comparison to male physical strength. IPV rates in the United States range from 17% to 39% for men. For women, the rates are a bit higher. The rate has grown substantially over the years for women despite a growth and deepening of knowledge thus making IPV a major social problem affecting women’s lives and health Younger women in late adolescence and young adulthood are the ones at high risk of IPV while older women are considered to be at less risk. This difference in risk is because young women are still exploring and therefore date more often (Capaldi, Knoble, Shortt & Kim 235).
How are claims makers convincing the public that IPV is a social problem?
Claims makers are normally social workers, policy makers, citizens and the media. They convince the Public that IPV is a social problem through several ways. One is that they are educating people that it encourages violence against others and thus anyone is at risk. Also, it affects all genders and races in terms of being suicidal due to diminished self- worth, abuse and abortion as an aftermath of rape. By educating people that it kills and leads to disabilities and negative effects on people’s health, people realize that it is risky. They also realize that it affects the labor market and the economy negatively if people’s health is put at risk. Claims makers also educate people that it can happen to anyone and that no one is immune to it (Kaur & nGara 76).
How is gender role socialization related to the rise in intimate partner violence?
Gender role socialization in most cultures resigns women to demeaning roles in the society. This means that they have no place to speak because they are considered worthless and their duty is to take care of the home and family. Thus, women tend to be timid under the overbearing personalities of men and have difficulty speaking up when violent acts against them are committed. They are also not allowed to hang their dirty linen in public and thus are forced to bear the pain of IPV alone in silence (Kaur & nGara 75)
How do the major agents of socialization, particularly the media, contribute to this social problem?
Agents of socialization contribute greatly to the prevalence of IPV. Family members judge victims of IPV blaming them and viewing them as the cause in the relationship for IPV. Talking about the violent experiences to family members or peers leads to one getting judged falsely as the problem and IPV being merely punishment by the Husband to instill discipline. Religion also does not offer real life solutions as men of the cloth advise us to forgive the assaulters and seek God’s guidance. The media leads to society attitudes of framing the victim leading to unsupportive interventions from the society despite the need for the protection of the victims. The media moves the responsibility to solve the problem to the individual instead of the society (Carlyle 168).
The media portrays IPV as the problem of the victim and inflictor and not a social problem. It engages in episodic framing where the individuals in the relationship are viewed as the ones who should in fact handle the situation and not the society. This framing leads to diminished support for public health solutions to violence. The more victims feel victimized, the less the probability of seeking help (Carlyle 169).
What can be done to address this social problem?
IPV is a serious problem that can cause long lasting and harmful effects to individuals, families and communities. IPV prevention should ensure that it does not happen in the first place. Prevention efforts should help reduce IPV prevalence by ensuring healthy relationships are promoted by addressing changes in all levels. These levels are individual, relationship, community and society. Data should also be collected about the prevalence of violence; ensuring prevention strategies are effective in helping those in need (CDC 170). The society should view IPV as a social problem and not individual problem and should avoid blaming the victims.
IPV victims should get access to Intimate Partner violence services in health. These services include counseling services, screening as well as pediatric services. Professionals should be educated on how to handle IPV cases and victims should get legal assistance concerning IPV occurrences. Most of all, the society and media should create a platform for openness and offering of unlimited support to victims of this violence. They should advocate for the inflictors of IPV to be charged and the social norms and culture oppressive to women eradicated (CDC 167).
Work Cited
Capaldi, Deborah M., et al. "A systematic review of risk factors for intimate partner violence." Partner abuse 3.2 (2012): 231.
Carlyle, Kellie E., Michael D. Slater, and Jennifer L. Chakroff. "Newspaper coverage of intimate partner violence: Skewing representations of risk." Journal of communication 58.1 (2008): 168-186.
Krug, Etienne G., et al. "The world report on violence and health." The lancet 360.9339 (2002): 1083-1088.
Crespi, Isabella. "Socialization and gender roles within the family: A study on adolescents and their parents in Great Britain." MCFA Annals 3 (2004).
Kaur, Ravneet, and Suneela Garg. "Addressing domestic violence against women: An unfinished agenda." Indian Journal of Community Medicine 33.2 (2008): 73.
