This section is based off of a Family Violence Bench Book section from the Judicial College.
# Family Violence is Gendered Violence
>[!CLAIM] Claim
>An overwhelming majority of women experience violence at the hands of men.
The source of this claim is said to be: *[The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (2009), Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council’s Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021, Canberra, at 25-26.](https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2012/background_paper_to_time_for_action.pdf)*
That document references an [Australian Bureau of Statistics, Personal Safety Survey conducted in 2005](https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/
[email protected]/Lookup/4906.0Main+Features12005%20(Reissue)%3FOpenDocument) (I highly recommend you read the full findings):
- Persons involved in the survey were asked about violence since age of 15
- Violence was defined as *"any incident involving the occurrence, attempt or threat of either physical or sexual assault"*
- 7,693,100 women responded, 7,478,100 men responded. The survey estimated a 25% to 50% of relative standard error.
- During the last 12 months (since 2005):
- 443,800 (5.8%) of women experienced violence from that sample. Within this sample;
- 73,800 (31%) of women were physically assaulted by a current/previous partner.
- 16,100 (10%) of women had a violence order issued as a result of the violence.
- 808,300 (10.8%) of men experienced violence from that sample. Within this sample;
- 21,200 (4.4%) of men were physically assaulted by a current/previous partner
- Since the age of 15 (of the people responding to the survey):
- 1,135,500 (15%) of women experienced violence from a previous or current partner.
- 367,300 (4.9%) of men experienced violence from a previous or current partner.
Keeping in mind that a full interpretation of the data would be needed to come to a concrete conclusion; this claim is substantiated. Statistics in 2005 showed in many ways that women do experience more abuse by a current or previous partner then men. Men were more likely to experience violence from strangers.
# Coercive Power and Control
>[!QUOTE] Family Violence Bench Book 5.2.3 - Victorian Judicial College
>Family violence is characterised by repeated coercive and controlling behaviour which limits, directs and shapes a person's thoughts, feelings or actions.
- Perpetrators combine subtle/overt methods to maintain control (e.g. act/talk/think in ways that please them)
- Perpetrators have control over their actions when they are violent.
# The Family Violence Cycle
**Phase 1:** Tension builds and victim's perceptions of danger increase
**Phase 2:** Tension culminates in violent incident
**Phase 3:** Period of loving/remorseful behaviour by perpetrator, seducing victim to remain in the relationship. Tension then builds again (back to Phase 1).
# Retaliatory Violence and Self-Defence
>[!IMPORTANT] Distinguish Resistance Violence from Primary Aggression
>Resistance violence lacks coercive or controlling intent on the part of the person committing the violence.
Victims of family violence may engage in behaviours as a response to perpetrators. The behaviour may appear **non-sensical or threaten the legitimacy of 'victimhood'**.
>[!INFO] Dr. Linda NEILSON
>Documented reactive behaviours, such as retaliating against physical or psychological violence with violent behaviour, aggressiveness or self-defensive behaviours which appear excessive, are apt to cause confusion but need to be understood as different to the primary aggressor's behaviour.
Reactive behaviour or 'resistance violence' can include:
- Violence as a response to perceived imminent threats; or
- Violence which is a response to psychological harm resulting from history of FV; or
- Violent behaviour undertaken in an attempt to escape relationship; or
- Violence as a means of standing up to primary aggressor
>[!WARNING] Primary Aggressor Identification
>Failing to identify resistance violence from primary aggressive violence can lead to a failure to adequately protect victims and be overly punitive to the victims themselves.