The link between poverty and domestic abuse. Why?

[Kindyeah]

I read a report which says that research consistently points to there being a link between the most deprived in society and domestic abuse. But I can’t see why.

I understand, of course, that deprivation increases the likelihood of depression etc. But I don’t believe that men are more likely to abuse women if they’re poorer. Surely it’s all about control? Why would richer men be less likely to abuse? Is it actually true, or is it that poorer women who leave abusive relationships are more likely to need the help of the Council, refuges, social services etc so they get picked up more, whilst richer women have the financial wherewithal to be able to leave and set themselves up without any outside involvement?

Would be really interested to hear from women who know more about this than me.

Why would there be any less unreported emotional abuse and coercive control in poorer households? I can understand bruises and physical damage being relatively easy to spot by neighbours, but are neighbours reporting financial abuse, stonewalling, checking messages etc. to the police?

Why is the supposed epidemic of non-physical domestic abuse assumed to predominantly be in affluent households?

The idea of poverty is being misused here too. Living in a flat or terraced house doesn’t mean you live in poverty. Poverty is a specific situation

Good question.

if it's this, then it's limited by self reporting and the attrition rate.

https://journals.lww.com/epidem/fulltext/2020/03000/long_term_exposure_to_neighborhood_deprivation_and.16.aspx

An earlier report was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/128551400/JRF_DV_POVERTY_REPORT_FINAL_COPY_.pdf

@AquaPeer I agree, there's no one group of people who are born less intelligent. However, cognitive development can be impacted by a persons surroundings and their upbringing - as a very basic example a child who is read to every night compared to one that never is. Our environment forms and shapes us.

An epidemic?

No, but equal proportions - perhaps.

Are there statistics on emotional or psychological abuse, financial abuse, or coercive control? All of those forms of abuse can be contributory factors in divorce or household breakup.

A high proportion of marriages in the UK end in divorce. It is hard to calculate the number of unofficial partnerships that end in separation. Breakdown of relationships happens across all levels of society. The assumption that a portion of the breakdown of relationships is due to abuse of some kind is very likely true. How big a portion is hard to determine.

Domestic abuse is about beliefs and values, not stress.

If it is caused by the circumstances of poverty, are there stressed poor men punching other people they interact with on a regular basis? Raging and calling names? Are there stressed poor women out there punching holes in the walls of post offices or doctors' waiting rooms, etc? Kicking other people's pets?

As the old saying goes, when poverty comes in through the door, love flies out of the window.

Abuse of women by men is about beliefs and values held by men about themselves and about women.

These beliefs exist separately from economic circumstances and life stresses. They are held across all tiers of society.

Why are you even asking this question? The more money you have the eaiser it is to leave at the early signs of bad treatment.

There's a link between poverty and all kinds of violence. Think of rough pubs. Where are they? Football thugs, knife crime, gang violence etc don't generally have their roots in affluent areas.

RE intelligence.

I have recently left a 20+ year DV relationship. My ex is a Dr, I have an undergrad degree and a masters. I had no idea the prison I had walked into and no understanding of the depths of the abuse. I beat myself up every day for not having seen it, for being so stupid. But when I look at other women there is no way I would characterise them in that way regardless of any iq or qualifications. Intelligence has nothing to do with it - perpetrating abuse is a choice.

Exactly! Of course they can help it. It’s not a loss of control. This is what led to my question.

Domestic abusers aren’t reacting though. They know exactly what they’re doing.

This is a very naive view of domestic abuse. It’s insidious.

If you take all power from someone, social and financial and give them only one power outlet (physical power over someone smaller than them) after showing them that men MUST be powerful or they are less than nothing, what do you expect?

And this is in no way an abusers charter. Poverty is still no excuse for abuse. Poor women are less likely to abuse than poor men.

Society seems to be, to me, a bit skewed. Instead of doing what's morally right, sometimes we seem to be encouraged to do what makes us feel powerful and "better than".