92.fullrethinking domestic violence: which way now?

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http://prb.sagepub.com/Probation Journal

http://prb.sagepub.com/content/45/2/92The online version of this article can be found at:

DOI: 10.1177/026455059804500207

1998 45: 92Probation JournalRethinking Domestic Violence: Which Way Now?

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The Trade Union and Professional Association for Family Court and Probation Staff

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REFLECTIONS

Rethinking DomesticViolence: Which Way Now?The Letters pages of the last two issues of Probation Journal have

seen a vigorous debate on approaches to domestic violence. Here, Liz

Dixon, Probation Officer in Inner London and Lecturer in the Schoolof Social Work at Brunel University College, offers an alternative

perspective, and warns against any unhelpful polarisation in an

important debate. She argues that for practitioners the crucial issue isnot the theory per se, but its applicability to the realities of practice.

have read and re-read the article andensuing correspondence in ProbationJournal (Rethinking Domestic Violence.Where Next In Family Court WelfarePractice? Sept. 1997, Dec. 1997 andMarch 1998). It feels to me that the debateis becoming somewhat abstract and thatwhat is missing is an explicit focus on the

practice implications. I think thanAnneAshworth is acknowledging that we often

work with women and men when we knowthat there is a risk of recurring domesticviolence. We know that in these instances

the women may not leave the men at the

time of our involvement.Although this is

profoundly worrying, it is the reality as itstands, and our response to this situation is

of crucial importance. I agree withAnneAshworths point that domestic violencecan have complex causation but I do not

agree with the practice implications of thatview. Whilst I also agree with her critics

that the main causative factor of domestic

violence is the abuse of male power, Iwould suggest that this analysis alone doesnot equip us with the skills to assist menand women caught up in these damagingrelationships. It does not thus help thechildren who are victims and on-lookers.

Annes Ashworths critics are I feel

talking about the moral imperative that wehave to do something about the violence weknow to be happening, that we must not

collude and that we must recognise andchallenge the abuse as it happens. Their

analysis of the problem will assist us in

contextualising our intervention in thesame way as it does in child protectioncases in which we accept an offence has

happened and that the abuser is culpableregardless of the victims response.However, the practice issues in the case ofviolence against adult women are different;we are advocates for children and canoverride their views, but this is clearly not

appropriate with adult women. Experience

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shows that women will not always reporttrue incidence, may minimise theseriousness of abusive behav~our, ~td~&dquo;conclude that the male abuser is not fullyresponsible for his actions and was

provoked. Practice often turns on

empowering the women to acknowledge

what is going on and giving them support tocreate change.

I reflect that the debate in the Journal

mirrors the dialogues had between friendsand families of women who find

themselves locked into relationships thatare damaging, abusive and painful. Whatdo you do? How can you help? Theemotional environment one deals with is

turbulent, ones sympathy lies with thewomen but one feels confused when shedecides to give him another chance. Sowhat should we do?

The Realities Of Practice

Probation officers and others have analysedthe problem of domestic violence andconcluded that the abuse of male power lies

at the heart of the problem. This axiom is aconstructive foundation for us when we

engage with the issues. But what does this

mean in practice?I would suggest thatsome officers take a view that accepts the

ambivalence and fear that women

experience. They acknowledge issues of

co-dependency and womens unwillingnessto take action in the immediate future.

Many women who suffer from domesticviolence do not believe that there are other

optionsor less violent men

with whomto

enter relationships. Their experience of lifedoes not tell them that there are other kinds

of men around. They therefore make do,hoping that they can, with perseverance,sacrifice and faith, improve the men andcreate change - men are rarely violent allthe time. The loneliness of singleparenthood, societys prejudice and thesheer effort involved in raising children

without the support of a partner alsoinfluences the decision to stay with thedevil you know in the hope that things maychange. Probation officers who

acknowledge this reality are working to

empower the woman to have higherexpectations and to make her aware of the

- riK~ unaer which she is placing herself andher children. This will also involve warningher of the long-term effects on herself andthe children. With the men, they are

challenging and confronting the wrongs,

exposing their wrong-doing and workingtoward behavioural change. One often hasto challenge the womans perception of thesituation, not in a way that judges her asfoolish, but rather encourages in her a senseof responsibility to herself and her children.

Other probation officers take the line thatthe only solution is to get out straight away.This is in my view a correct and laudable

position and is very often the rightmessage. However, if the woman does notfeel she can do this, then the approach ofthe probation officer can be less than

helpful. By taking such a position the

probation officer can fail to engage withwhere the client is at and conduct the

necessary preparatory work to enable the

leaving. I think the professional fear is that

you are colluding with the violence and thisis unfair to the children. I would suggestthat some probation officers are so worriedabout collusion, that they avoid the issues

altogether.Sometimes domestic violence is

overwhelmingly an abuse of power whichthe women wants to end. Sometimes

dealing with domestic violence throws updimensions to the problem which requires awider perspective. However, I feel that

while the issues do not vary, howwe

develop our models of practice and ouractual intervention will vary. I believe we

have to assist women who are at different

stages of empowerment and self-determination. Sometimes a women feels

she can bring influence to bear and

unconsciously or consciously decide totake the risk and stick with the relationship.We cannot dictate how things are or should

be, or how and when the process willunfold.As professionals, we have a duty toensure that children are not at risk and we

have to encourage prosecution against theviolence. What we should be doing is help



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to expose the violence and assist the

women ia going through the process,starting with where she is at- and tuvefinr

..

with her.

The Importance OfThe DebateI think thatAnneAshworth is saying

something importantand I think that her

critics are saying something important. Weneed to listen to both. I have listened to and

witnessed victims experiences over manyyears and believe that if you do not listen

carefully, any hope of truly engaging and

maximising the potential for change isminimised. You may be someone they cantrust and from whom they can get thatcrucial help, advice and support when theyfinally decide to make the break. There isno reason why you cannot do this whilst

supervising-the perpetrator.I find that the theory, particularly the

*&dquo; Generality -of -the abuse --of male power,grounds my work and provides thefoundation and focus for effective

intervention, but it cannot provide all of theanswers. Fifty percent of my male clientshave admitted

committingoffences of

domestic violence. The work is hard but I

feel focused, my work with each client is

completely different and I often take mycue from the women. We are all deeplyconcerned about domestic violence but we

need to have the debate to assist us in our

varied practice. I do not agree with all ofwhatAnneAshworth says but recognisesome of the truth in her arguments. In anyevent, the debate is

hugelyuseful and has

helped us to focus on what really works.


92.fullrethinking domestic violence: which way now?

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