Author Archives: tais

Domestic Violence

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The prevalence of wife battering in India no matter how shocking and revolting to us, is a very common and acceptable practice deeply rooted in Indian culture.
In India the idea of having a son is far more accepted and met with more enthusiasm than the birth of girl. Female infanticide is high very in India. The reason females are viewed in such a negative way is because girls are more likely to move away from the family when they marry, therefore lessening the possibility of them contributing to the family fortune.  Sons receive a greater preference  because as the author Elaine Leeder states, “ Boy’s are needed as  economic assets, for farming, and for the money they send home if they move away. “
Since females are often viewed as “drains to society” and burdens, they are often neglected and abused. The abuse, although it often begins in childhood, might begin to reach its peak before a girl marries. In some cases,  the parents of the groom will take the bride hostage and abuse her in hopes of receiving a greater dowry from the girl’s parents. Often when they do not meet these conditions the bride is beaten and forced to live in fear. After a beating ,the power of the bride in the family structure is decreased.  In some instances, the  family property and her children are given to other members of the household.
Because it is the husband’s duty to keep the wife “ in line” beating her when she does not behave is perfectly acceptable and often expected. Yet, some husbands take it too far and beat their wives in a drunken stupor without cause. This abuse is often allowed to continue if the husband is when sober, a good husband and only beats his wife excessively when drunk. The village monk or elder will interfere if the battering and beating of the wife exceeds the reasonable standards and acceptable circumstances, set forth by the village. In these cases a monk will interfere and stop the violence against the wife.
Interestingly but not surprising, women who have male children seem to avoid or at least have reduced instances of beating.  Elaine Leeder, offers this explanation as to why this might be the case. “Because she has “ fulfilled societal expectations, it seems to provide a deterrent to abuse”) SO pg. 249
Still the abuse and common practice of wife battering continues and “ With living outside of marriage not being an option for women” this cycle of abuse and terror is repeated from generation to generation. Especially since it is viewed as an important and essential part of the family life.
The practice of child is abuse is also common in India. Child abuse has always been most commonly seen as a more prominent problem of the lower class.  However, with the industrialization and modernization of India, the middle class families are under more stress.  As a result  of the more urbanized evolution of India, more child abuse is being found in the higher classes of Indian society.
As the author  explains “ There is  intense competition and effort at upward mobility. This also puts stress on the family. In addition, there is a well-established pattern of corporal punishment in raising children. Children are socialized to obey parents………… The family is highly hierarchical, and now that families are moving away from the joint family, there is less support for raising the children and sharing the household tasks.  All these factors create an environment that’s ripe for an increase in child abuse rates.” (SO pg. 249)Direct Quote)
Invisible Violence and Visible Violence
The Vietnam war can be credited with having a significant impact of family life in Vietnam.  SO pg. 251). As a result of the 1945 revolution many tried and later succeeded at obtaining equality for women, thus abolishing the inferior position and status women were given.  Yet, traditional beliefs and views on women and their place in society die hard, and there are still some who as the author states “ allow to linger the vestiges of Confucian ideology.”
Men often behave as kings in their own home despite the fact that women in the workforce make more money than the men. Women’s numbers in the workforce are large and like the United States the second shift is very common.”
However, after work, the women must spend between five to six hours a night doing housework. This has been as referred to in the text called” the invisible violence of Vietnam. Because while there  may not be physical violence between men and women, intimidation and fear drive the relationships. This equity occurs for both urban educated and rural poor women.” SO pg. 251
Visible violence is the leading cause of divorce in Vietnam. Unlike the invisible violence which occurs through use of intimidation there is actual physical abuse inflicted on the women by their husbands. The seriousness of this disturbing trend can be seen from a study which found that 17.5 % of the deaths in Vietnam were a result of family violence; while a staggering  87.5% of divorces was a direct result of violence in the home. ( SO pg. 251)
A reason given for this violence was this socioeconomic status.  “Poverty stricken men often feel they are allowed to take out their frustration and anger on their wives and children.”  Other reasons range from jealousy, adultery, to gambling ect… No matter what the cause, the prominence of Visible violence is just as real as the invisible violence.
The prevalence of wife battering in India no matter how shocking and revolting to us, is a very common and acceptable practice deeply rooted in Indian culture.
In India, the idea of having a son is far more accepted and met with more enthusiasm than the birth of girl. Female infanticide is high very in India. The reason females are viewed in such a negative way is because girls are more likely to move away from the family when they marry, therefore lessening the possibility of them contributing to the family fortune.  Sons receive a greater preference  because as the author Elaine Leeder states, “ Boy’s are needed as  economic assets, for farming, and for the money they send home if they move away. “
Since females are often viewed as “drains to society” and burdens, they are often neglected and abused. The abuse, although it often begins in childhood, might begin to reach its peak before a girl marries. In some cases,  the parents of the groom will take the bride hostage and abuse her in hopes of receiving a greater dowry from the girl’s parents. Often when they do not meet these conditions the bride is beaten and forced to live in fear. After a beating ,the power of the bride in the family structure is decreased.  In some instances, the  family property and her children are given to other members of the household.
Because it is the husband’s duty to keep the wife “ in line” beating her when she does not behave is perfectly acceptable and often expected. Yet, some husbands take it too far and beat their wives in a drunken stupor without cause. This abuse is often allowed to continue if the husband is when sober, a good husband and only beats his wife excessively when drunk. The village monk or elder will interfere if the battering and beating of the wife exceeds the reasonable standards and acceptable circumstances, set forth by the village. In these cases a monk will interfere and stop the violence against the wife.
Interestingly but not surprising, women who have male children seem to avoid or at least have reduced instances of beating.  Elaine Leeder, offers this explanation as to why this might be the case. “Because she has “ fulfilled societal expectations, it seems to provide a deterrent to abuse”) SO pg. 249
Still the abuse and common practice of wife battering continues and “ With living outside of marriage not being an option for women” this cycle of abuse and terror is repeated from generation to generation. Especially since it is viewed as an important and essential part of the family life.
The practice of child is abuse is also common in India. Child abuse has always been most commonly seen as a more prominent problem of the lower class.  However, with the industrialization and modernization of India, the middle class families are under more stress.  As a result  of the more urbanized evolution of India, more child abuse is being found in the higher classes of Indian society.
As the author  explains “ There is  intense competition and effort at upward mobility. This also puts stress on the family. In addition, there is a well-established pattern of corporal punishment in raising children. Children are socialized to obey parents………… The family is highly hierarchical, and now that families are moving away from the joint family, there is less support for raising the children and sharing the household tasks.  All these factors create an environment that’s ripe for an increase in child abuse rates.” (SO pg. 249)Direct Quote)
Invisible Violence and Visible Violence
The Vietnam war can be credited with having a significant impact of family life in Vietnam.  SO pg. 251). As a result of the 1945 revolution many tried and later succeeded at obtaining equality for women, thus abolishing the inferior position and status women were given.  Yet, traditional beliefs and views on women and their place in society die hard, and there are still some who as the author states “ allow to linger the vestiges of Confucian ideology.”
Men often behave as kings in their own home despite the fact that women in the workforce make more money than the men. Women’s numbers in the workforce are large and like the United States the second shift is very common.”
However, after work, the women must spend between five to six hours a night doing housework. This has been as referred to in the text called” the invisible violence of Vietnam. Because while there  may not be physical violence between men and women, intimidation and fear drive the relationships. This equity occurs for both urban educated and rural poor women.” SO pg. 251
Visible violence is the leading cause of divorce in Vietnam. Unlike the invisible violence which occurs through use of intimidation there is actual physical abuse inflicted on the women by their husbands. The seriousness of this disturbing trend can be seen from a study which found that 17.5 % of the deaths in Vietnam were a result of family violence; while a staggering  87.5% of divorces was a direct result of violence in the home. ( SO pg. 251)
A reason given for this violence was this socioeconomic status.  “Poverty stricken men often feel they are allowed to take out their frustration and anger on their wives and children.”  Other reasons range from jealousy, adultery, to gambling ect… No matter what the cause, the prominence of Visible violence is just as real as the invisible violence.
Tais

Thiness

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When discussing eating disorders there are three main models used to explain the Epidemology, Etiology and treatment of eating problems.
The first model is referred to as the biomedical model and is used to give scientific reasons for the psychological aspects of the eating disorders. Unfortunately it often ignores the cultural, social, and historical reasons that contribute to the disorders. In some cases because of the focus being on the more scientific aspect it often makes women feel less empowered.
The psychological model views  eating disorders as multidimensional and believe it is are often influenced by genetics, cultural and psychological elements. This model while considered very valuable in the use of providing proper therapeutical treatments yet in contrast tends to ignore many of the social and cultural aspects of its women.
Lastly the Cultural thinness model says that thinness is culturally and socially required in today’s society and is often attributed to a woman’s worth and beauty. Thus many women are often subject to frequent dieting cycles and eating disorders to appease and meet society’s expectations.
Examples of the cultural thinness model are rampant throughout today’s society. When one looks at the Fashion Industry and Entertainment world we see numerous protrayals of what society viewed as the perfect body or the perfect woman. Everywhere you turn there are  posters, commercials, movies ect displaying ultra thin, attractive women. Although these  industries cannot be blamed for the disorders they definitely have contributed in a way to the social pressures and expectations women are faced with.
Yet there are still more intimate and painful factors that contribute to eating disorders. Sexual abuse and eating disorders have been shown to be directly  connected. Studies show that one third- out of  two- thirds of women who suffer from eating disorders have been abused. Of the 61 percent of women interviewed most of them made direct connections to sexual abuse and eating problems. These women often turned to food and binge eating to comfort and make them feel safe. Numbing their emotional and psychological pain the food was used to help them survive.
In the case of one woman,  Antonia( who’s sexually abuse began at 4 years old) she describes how after having nightmares and anxiety attacks she would go to the cabinet and eat anything she could find. The food served as a sedative in her cause helping her to go back to sleep thus for a short time allowing her to escape the confusion and pain resulting from the abuse. She later shared that one of the reasons she binged at instead of dieting was because she equated thinness with the good girls and due to her abuse she no longer felt worthy to be called a good girl.
In contrast another woman explained having the opposite experience and believed her chubbiness was the cause of her being targeted for abuse. She had even heard her family say that the perverts like the chubby girls best. Thus her desire to be thin and thus no longer be a victim led her to hate her body and the fat. Adding to that fact of the extra pressure she endured from her parents who viewed as a embarrassment because of her chubbiness. Her father often referred to her body as a “shot to hell.
Another aspect of eating disorders is the sensitive subject of racism and class.
As seen in the text Joselyn and African American described remembering how her Caucasian  grandmother would often tell her she would never be pretty because she was not light like her other cousins. She was often subject to humiliation and called fat, thus began the journey into the dark channels of eating disorders. Coming from a family that was slowly evolving along with history the once acceptable scene of a happy plump family was replaced by the expectation of a thin looking family. Instead of plumpness being viewed as a sign of success and wealth it became a thing to be abhorred in her family especially as her father began doing more business with their Caucasian neighbors. Her father in a desire to portray the new picture of success placed Joseyln on numerous diets in a effort to appear successful. Yet in the end the cause for Joesyln’s eating disorder was not properly addressed and led to greater problems in the future.
When discussing eating disorders there are three main models used to explain the Epidemology, Etiology and treatment of eating problems.
The first model is referred to as the biomedical model and is used to give scientific reasons for the psychological aspects of the eating disorders. Unfortunately it often ignores the cultural, social, and historical reasons that contribute to the disorders. In some cases because of the focus being on the more scientific aspect it often makes women feel less empowered.
The psychological model views  eating disorders as multidimensional and believe it is are often influenced by genetics, cultural and psychological elements. This model while considered very valuable in the use of providing proper therapeutical treatments yet in contrast tends to ignore many of the social and cultural aspects of its women.
Lastly the Cultural thinness model says that thinness is culturally and socially required in today’s society and is often attributed to a woman’s worth and beauty. Thus many women are often subject to frequent dieting cycles and eating disorders to appease and meet society’s expectations.
Examples of the cultural thinness model are rampant throughout today’s society. When one looks at the Fashion Industry and Entertainment world we see numerous protrayals of what society viewed as the perfect body or the perfect woman. Everywhere you turn there are  posters, commercials, movies ect displaying ultra thin, attractive women. Although these  industries cannot be blamed for the disorders they definitely have contributed in a way to the social pressures and expectations women are faced with.
Yet there are still more intimate and painful factors that contribute to eating disorders. Sexual abuse and eating disorders have been shown to be directly  connected. Studies show that one third- out of  two- thirds of women who suffer from eating disorders have been abused. Of the 61 percent of women interviewed most of them made direct connections to sexual abuse and eating problems. These women often turned to food and binge eating to comfort and make them feel safe. Numbing their emotional and psychological pain the food was used to help them survive.
In the case of one woman,  Antonia( who’s sexually abuse began at 4 years old) she describes how after having nightmares and anxiety attacks she would go to the cabinet and eat anything she could find. The food served as a sedative in her cause helping her to go back to sleep thus for a short time allowing her to escape the confusion and pain resulting from the abuse. She later shared that one of the reasons she binged at instead of dieting was because she equated thinness with the good girls and due to her abuse she no longer felt worthy to be called a good girl.
In contrast another woman explained having the opposite experience and believed her chubbiness was the cause of her being targeted for abuse. She had even heard her family say that the perverts like the chubby girls best. Thus her desire to be thin and thus no longer be a victim led her to hate her body and the fat. Adding to that fact of the extra pressure she endured from her parents who viewed as a embarrassment because of her chubbiness. Her father often referred to her body as a “shot to hell.
Another aspect of eating disorders is the sensitive subject of racism and class.
As seen in the text Joselyn and African American described remembering how her Caucasian  grandmother would often tell her she would never be pretty because she was not light like her other cousins. She was often subject to humiliation and called fat, thus began the journey into the dark channels of eating disorders. Coming from a family that was slowly evolving along with history the once acceptable scene of a happy plump family was replaced by the expectation of a thin looking family. Instead of plumpness being viewed as a sign of success and wealth it became a thing to be abhorred in her family especially as her father began doing more business with their Caucasian neighbors. Her father in a desire to portray the new picture of success placed Joseyln on numerous diets in a effort to appear successful. Yet in the end the cause for Joesyln’s eating disorder was not properly addressed and led to greater problems in the future.
Tais