The Foshan Women's Federation has submitted suggestions to relevant
departments to establish a sanctuary for female victims of violence
from the city. Domestic violence has become a serious issue over
the past two years in the city, according to statistics from the
federation.
Why are women prone to domestic violence? Statistics from the
Foshan Women's Federation, Guangdong Province, show that domestic
violence in worker and farmer families accounts for the largest
proportion. However it is also known to exist among the educated.
In respect of age, young and middle-aged couples experience
domestic violence the most.
Over the past two years, the Foshan Women's Federation received a
total of 10,852 letters and visits, of which 6,284 or 57.9 percent
belonged to the category of marriage and family. And in this
category, 563 or 8.96 percent were related to domestic violence
with details of husbands attacking wives accounting for 93.4
percent.
A
major part of these complaints occurred in worker and farmer
families. However, white-collar families of a higher education
level were also included. Young and middle-aged couples occupied a
major part as they were also facing pressures from families and
work and in their marriages in the period following their wedding,
leading to conflict and domestic violence.
Beside workers and farmers, attacks occurred from cadres, college
professors, senior engineers, physicians and doctors. For example,
one couple in Chancheng District of Foshan are both intellectuals.
The wife is often badly battered by her husband, who is known to
have had an extra-marital affair.
Except for general physical attacks, domestic violence also
involves sexual abuse and mental torture. As most of these
incidents happen inside families, a comparatively concealed place,
irregularly and repeatedly, outsiders are unlikely to know of it.
Therefore, even though there may be complaints, collecting evidence
is always difficult.
A
survey conducted by Foshan Women's Federation says poor mutual
affection and domestic economic pressure are some of the major
reasons for domestic violence. Additionally, extra-marital affairs
and male chauvinism are also triggering factors. Furthermore, some
woman who blindly give in to the attacks or are even ready to
suffer humiliation because of their children's "happiness" could
also boost aggression from the perpetrator of the violence.
The Foshan Women's Federation has already submitted suggestions to
relevant department to establish a women's sanctuary which could
extricate the female victims from the dangers of such a violent
environment.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, May 19, 2003)