NCJ Number
53082
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WIFE ABUSE AND EARLY PREGNANCY, EARLY MARRIAGE, AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION IS EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF 600 MARRIED WOMEN WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR LEGAL AID, TO LEAVE THEIR HUSBAND.
Abstract
THE FOLLOWING HYPOTHESES WERE CONSIDERED: (1) WOMEN WHO BECOME PREGNANT EARLY IN THEIR MARRIAGES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE BEATEN BY THEIR HUSBANDS THAN THOSE WHO BECOME PREGNANT LATER IN THEIR MARRIAGES; (2) WOMEN WHO MARRY YOUNG ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE BEATEN BY THEIR HUSBANDS THAN WOMEN WHO MARRY LATER IN LIFE; AND (3) WOMEN WITH MORE EDUCATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE BEATEN THAN THOSE WITH LESS EDUCATION. IN AN EXPLORATORY STUDY, 600 FEMALE CLIENTS OF THE FAMILY LAW UNIT OF BROOKLYN (N.Y.) LEGAL SERVICES WERE INTERVIEWED JUST PRIOR TO THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE UNIT. THE 600 WOMEN REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CASE LOAD FOR ONE WORKING YEAR FOR BROOKLYN LEGAL SERVICES. SUPPORT WAS FOUND FOR THE FIRST AND THIRD HYPOTHESES; 69 PERCENT OF THE ABUSED WIVES HAD BECOME PREGNANT EARLY IN THEIR MARRIAGES, WHILE 49 PERCENT OF THE NONABUSED WIVES HAD BECOME PREGNANT EARLY IN THEIR MARRIAGES. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT 47 PERCENT OF THE WIVES WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATION HAD BEEN BEATEN BY THEIR HUSBANDS AND THAT 68 PERCENT OF WIVES WITH COLLEGE EDUCATION HAD BEEN BEATEN BY THEIR HUSBANDS. THE STUDY'S SECOND HYPOTHESIS WAS NOT CONFIRMED. IT IS CONCLUDED SEPARATELY THAT WOMEN WHO BECOME PREGNANT EARLY IN THEIR MARRIAGES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE BEATEN BECAUSE OF THEIR UNIQUE, VULNERABLE POSITION. IT IS FURTHER ARGUED THAT SOCIALIZATION IS APT TO STIMULATE MARRIED MEN TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE. IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT WOMEN WITH HIGH LEVELS OF EDUCATION POSE A GREATER PERCEIVED THREAT TO THEIR HUSBANDS THAN DO WOMEN WITH LOW LEVELS OF EDUCATION. REFERENCES AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)