Myths about the causes and incidence - Common Myths - Domestic Violence Forum - The London borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Common Myths

Myths about the causes and incidence

Domestic Violence is not a serious social problem

It is difficult to know the true extent of domestic violence due to four factors:

the hidden nature of the problem
under-reporting and
the rare identification of domestic violence as a separate issue which means, therefore, it does not appear in statistical data
different understandings/ definitions of domestic violence

There are, nonetheless, broad estimates of the extent of domestic violence, suggesting that the behaviour is extremely widespread. Research indicates that between I in 2 and I in 4 women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives; at any one given time, between I in 8 and I in 12 women will be experiencing domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a largely a working class phenomenon

Once again, a lack of accurate statistics cannot reflect the distribution of this problem. Workers may assess that violence is a problem for working class people because women in families on lower incomes are more likely to come to the notice of helping agencies.

Middle class women are less likely to seek assistance because they fear personal embarrassment and the possible damage to their husband's careers if the violence was disclosed. Research indicates that there are no socio-economic barriers to domestic violence.

Domestic violence occurs more often/ is more severe in some ethnic groups than others

Studies have shown that patterns of domestic violence do not vary between different communities.

This is because domestic violence can manifest itself in any society where there is an unequal power imbalance between men and women

Alcohol is the main cause of domestic violence

Even though the consumption of alcohol may be a precipitating factor to triggering violent incidents in the home; it is not the cause of domestic violence. Alcohol 'frees' some men up to act in certain ways by disinhibiting them from displaying aggression.

Some may drink to give themselves 'courage' to assault their partners. Being 'under the influence' at the time of the assault may provide the perpetrator with what he feels to be an excuse for his behaviour.

However, drunkenness is never an excuse for violence and many men who drink are not violent to their partners. Drunk drivers are not seen as unable to help their behaviour, and their drunkenness is not seen as an excuse for the damage they cause.

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Barking and Dagenham Domestic Violence Forum