Sociology 2266A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Masculinity, O. J. Simpson
Document Summary
Gender violence- masculinity and power in men"s accounts of domestic violence. In the 1970s, feminist activists brought wife abuse to the publics thoughts. Men in this study constructed violence as a rational response to extreme provocation, loss of control or minor incident that was blown out of proportion. The men talked about women"s violence in a different form than mens violence reflecting a hegemonic attitude of masculinity. Women experience higher rates of victimization at the hands of men (african/latin women higher than european american women) Most partners did not perceive themselves at risk from there wives violence. Young men learn to view themselves as violent through rough play/contact sports. Men are further advantaged by cultural norms that a woman should be with a man that is stronger than her. Depicted violence as rational/effective/explosive where as womens violence was hysterical/ineffectual. Some respondents depicted there partners violence as irrational, in order to justify there own violence while making them see more rational/cool.