Domestic violence is a serious problem for many families, and not all victims know how to find a solution. A dependent position on a tyrant, indecision and other aspects can lead to disastrous situations. So, how do you understand that there are preconditions for violence in the family, and what ways are there to combat it? We will consider all these questions in detail in the article below.
Martyrs 2008
Genre: Horror
Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.4, IMDb – 7.1
Several people fainted while watching the film at the Toronto Film Festival.
At the beginning of the film, we are shown a little girl named Lucy wandering along a country road. She was considered missing for more than a year, and by some miracle she managed to escape from her captors. Lucy became very thin, and her body showed many signs of beatings. The child is in a state of shock and cannot really tell anything about what happened. The police find an abandoned slaughterhouse where the girl was. Lucy's emaciated and dirty body shows no signs of sexual violence, which means her abductor was not a pedophile. The criminal has done stranger things, but what? And by what miracle did Lucy escape?
Types of violence against women
Types of domestic violence are divided into the following types:
Physical
Direct or indirect influence on the victim, the purpose of which is to cause physical harm to her, beatings, slaps, kicks, slaps, and so on. Corporal punishment against any family member is a form of domestic violence. Physical violence also includes unwillingness to provide first aid, deprivation of vital needs (shower, toilet), sleep deprivation, coercion to drugs or alcohol.
Injuring other family members or animals in an attempt to psychologically influence the victim. This is an indirect form of physical violence.
One of the most severe forms of physical domestic violence is rape. The consequence may be unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Often victims, fearing public opinion, remain silent about rape.
This type of violence is usually committed with other forms of domestic violence. This means any forced action of a sexual nature, as well as coercion in the form of persuasion, blackmail, harassment, and bribery.
In our society, as in many others, marriage is often regarded as a man gaining unconditional rights to have sex with his wife, and to use force if she does not want intimacy.
Coercion, “seasoned” with talk about marital debt, is considered sexual violence, since there is no marital debt. In a healthy relationship, sex is always consensual and brings satisfaction and joy to both partners.
Among the forms of sexual violence there is also the demonstration of genitals and pornography.
Psychological
This form of domestic violence is more common than others. May occasionally be accompanied by physical violence. It is difficult to diagnose, as well as to prove to a court. The remaining forms have obvious physical consequences, while the psychological form rarely has significant visible consequences. At the same time, the damage to the psyche remains very heavy.
Psychological tyranny can be expressed in endless remarks, which the rapist calls ordinary criticism, sarcastic jokes, or any statements that humiliate the victim. There are also various prohibitions regarding meeting with friends or relatives, going to work, and so on. Other manifestations: demonstration of strength without physical force.
A separate sub-item can be identified – gaslighting. The word dates back to the release of the film “Gaslight” (1944). The film demonstrates how one person raises doubts about the adequacy of another, does not confirm the reality of the events taking place, and thereby drives him to madness.
That is, denial of reality in real life can look like this
:
- “I never said this, you’re making it up,” “You imagined it,” “This never happened” (denial of facts);
- “You can’t be angry with me,” “You think you feel bad, but you don’t” (denial of emotions);
- “Listen, you’re behaving strangely, this could end badly”, “It’s not a bad mood - you’re depressed” (a hint of mental disorders).
Financial
This implies control over the family’s financial resources, restricting the victim’s finances, extortion or coercion. In the same category there is a ban on employment, training, as well as deliberate waste of family funds (to create tense relationships). One of the forms of economic violence: the unwillingness of one of the partners to work.
Irreversible (2002)
Genre: Thriller, drama, crime
Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.1, IMDb – 7.4
The film is banned from showing in Belarus.
This terrible story happened in just one night in beautiful Paris. The first frames of the film show us a dirty den, where Marcus and Pierre are discussing a plan for the upcoming murder of a psychopath who raped their beloved woman Alex. They enter a gay club, and some unknown patron begins to harass Marcus. Pierre thought that this was the same criminal and beat the victim to death with a fire extinguisher. But it turned out that the real maniac was standing literally two steps away from them...
Can alcohol be the cause of violence against your wife?
Many victims believe that an alcoholic husband commits violent acts unconsciously. Is it so? You can find out this and much more in our article. Experts believe that alcoholic drinks reduce the ability to control one's actions. However, it cannot be said that an alcoholic husband acts unconsciously. It is known that many aggressors who got rid of their addiction and stopped drinking strong drinks continued to use psychological or physical violence against their chosen one after recovery. Experts say that alcoholism only worsens the problem.
The Last House on the Left (1972)
Genre: Horror, thriller
Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.0, IMDb – 6.0
The slogan of the film is “To avoid losing consciousness, repeat: “It’s just a movie... It’s just a movie...”
Marie and Phyllis are two best friends who were born and raised in the outback. One day they went to the city to see a performance by a popular rock band. The girls decided to have a blast, but fate decreed otherwise - a gang of fugitives caught the defenseless girls. The group was led by the brutal Circle, which came up with sophisticated methods of torture. The poor girls are caught in a bloody trap from which it is impossible to escape.
Boys Don't Cry 1999
Genre: Drama, melodrama, crime
Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.4, IMDb – 7.5
Before filming, actress Hilary Swank lived as men for about a month.
Brandon Teena arrives in a small town in Nebraska and immediately attracts attention. He's smart, charming, and he's not averse to hanging out with the local punks and getting drunk like a cab driver. The hero lives to the fullest and enjoys the feeling of limitless freedom. Not a single girl can pass by Brandon and this is not surprising, because he is very sensitive and attentive. How can you miss such a cute guy? A real candy baby for girls! The young man begins dating Lana, however, he forgot to tell her about one terrible secret. A secret because of which he could be humiliated, raped and even killed.
She (Elle) 2020
Genre: Thriller, drama, crime
Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.5, IMDb – 7.1
The main female role could be played by actresses Sharon Stone and Nicole Kidman.
“Her” is a brutal film with scenes of female violence, one of the best on the list. Michelle is a wealthy girl who works for a large video game development company. She does not have a permanent relationship, but sometimes she visits her friend's husband and arranges passionate games. One day, a man dressed in black breaks into her apartment, brutally beats her and rapes her. The next morning Michelle did not go to the police. This horrific story awakens her childhood psychological secrets, which are directly connected to her father, a serial killer. Now she sees every man as a rapist. Michelle wants to find that same man, but not at all in order to hand him over to the police.
What to do if you are experiencing domestic violence?
- Don't be silent. You should decide to ask for help.
- If you decide to leave, never return. Rapists simply need their victim. Moreover, many perceive the victim as part of their property. They are ready to do anything to get her back, even convince her that they will improve. But, according to statistics, those who returned are subject to “punishment”: many receive serious injuries, and some even die.
- Analyze why this happened to you, what attracted the tyrant to you so much. A psychologist or psychotherapist will help you figure this out. Because often the problem takes the form of a vicious circle: having left one despot, a woman finds another.
- Contact law enforcement agencies and loved ones. Who can help you, see a psychologist or psychotherapist who can conduct high-quality rehabilitation.
- Contact the support group. Those who also experienced similar violence come to them. You can find such groups in your city using the Internet.
- Contact a lawyer to defend your rights in case of divorce.
The topic of domestic violence experienced by men in their families deserves additional attention. Gender equality advocates point to the fact that men often experience such violence without even realizing that they are victims. In particular, acts of such domestic violence include: constant quarrels initiated by women (including periods of hormonal fluctuations), the inability to fully relax, the need to hide part of their income in order to be able to use it at their discretion, and even the long stay of the wife’s parents in home. I wonder how to evaluate the cohabitation of several generations in one living space?
Day of the Woman 1978
Genre: Horror, thriller
Rating: KinoPoisk – 5.8, IMDb – 5.7
The scar on Jennifer's left side is real.
Writer Jennifer is tired of the bustle of the city. She goes to her house, located deep in the forest, to get away from people, retire and calmly write a new novel. To avoid having to go shopping for groceries, she places an order at the store, and a mentally retarded courier named Matthew comes to her. The guy tells his friends about Jennifer, and then the worst begins. The young people decided to secretly sneak into her house to have fun. They took turns brutally beating and raping Jennifer. But the girl turned out to be not as weak as the guys thought. She begins to take revenge...
Salo, or 120 days of Sodom (Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma) 1975
Genre: Horror, Drama, War
Rating: KinoPoisk – 5.4, IMDb – 5.9
After filming the film, director Pier Paolo Pasolini was found brutally murdered.
The film takes place in the “Republic of Salo” in 1944-1945. The upper elite bully, torture and torment the poor boys and girls. The authorities use the most terrible methods to satisfy their base needs. What are young people to blame for? Nothing, it’s just retribution for your youth and desire to live. Will anyone survive, or are each of them doomed to death?
Memo for women
Absolutely any violence can threaten not only the general emotional background of a woman, but also her life. It is known that about 50% of women who enter treatment facilities have suffered from violence. Social workers have developed rules that every representative of the fairer sex should know. They recommend having a serious conversation with the aggressor when he is in a calm state. It is important not to be afraid and not to hide the injuries from him. You also need to talk to your neighbors. Ask them to immediately call law enforcement if you hear screams coming from your apartment. Just in case, keep documents and money in a separate place, and also think about who can provide temporary shelter in the event of aggression from your husband. Do not be afraid or shy under any circumstances. The sooner the victim seeks help from a specialist, the greater the chance that the marriage will be saved. Remember! Any violence leaves an imprint not only on women’s, but also on children’s psyches. That is why it is necessary to fight it at the first manifestations.
The Tale 2020
Genre: Thriller, drama, detective
Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.6, IMDb – 7.3
The film "Tale" was the last for John Heard. The actor died in 2020.
Jennifer is an adult woman who has built a successful career as a journalist. The heroine had seen many terrible events and it seemed that nothing could surprise her. But one day her mother finds a diary in which 13-year-old Jenny describes in detail her sexual experiences with two men. Jennifer is shocked - she remembers absolutely nothing about this horror! The woman takes on her own investigation. She will have to meet with the participants in these events and find out the real truth. And when she recognizes her, Jennifer will look at herself with completely different eyes.
Responsibility
The term “domestic violence” is absent in the Russian legal framework, while in other countries of the world this category of offenses is widely covered.
Administrative punishment
Currently, administrative liability for beatings by loved ones (spouse, cohabitant, parents), committed for the first time and without causing harm to health, provides for one of the following types of punishment:
- administrative arrest for a period of 10 to 15 days;
- fine from 5 to 40 thousand rubles;
- compulsory work for 60-120 hours.
Domestic violence article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation
If a loved one raises his hand again, he will face criminal liability in accordance with Article 116 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (beatings) in the form of:
- compulsory work for up to 360 hours;
- corrective labor for up to 1 year;
- restrictions of freedom for up to 2 years;
- forced labor for up to 2 years;
- arrest for up to 6 months;
- imprisonment for up to 2 years.
The named measures of administrative and criminal liability have been applied in Russia since the entry into force of amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of February 7, 2020 (on the exclusion of criminal liability for beatings or violent actions that caused physical pain, but did not cause harm to health, in relation to close persons committed for the first time).
After the adoption of the amendments, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe sent a letter to the leadership of the State Duma and the Federation Council in which he expressed concern about such changes. In response, such pressure on the State Duma was called unacceptable.
When adopting the law, deputies were guided by the fact that previously beatings committed by close people were punished more severely than the same ones, but committed by a stranger: a loved one was subject to criminal liability, a stranger – administrative liability. But the adoption of the amendments does not mean that beatings have become legalized.
Public opinion is divided; some believe it is fair not to prosecute a person for slapping or slapping. Others, on the contrary, believe that now domestic sadists will go unpunished.
What is your opinion on this matter? – Write in the comments.
The Girl Next Door (2007)
Genre: Thriller, drama, crime
Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.8, IMDb – 6.6
The film is based on the work of the same name by writer Jack Ketchum.
Teenager David Morgan met his pretty 16-year-old neighbor Megan, who lives with her sister Susan in the Chandler family. The head of the family, Mrs. Chandler, also called “Ruth,” is not a good mother. She has three sons with whom she regularly drinks beer and starts dirty conversations. Megan and Susan have a hard time living under Ruth's wing, as family members constantly bully and beat them. One day, Megan can’t stand it anymore and goes to the police, for which Ruth decides to teach the obnoxious girl a good lesson. David, knowing about these events, cannot sit still. He comes to that very house and finds Ruth and her sons torturing Megan...
Who suffers and what is the cause of domestic violence?
The main misconception, which carries unsafe consequences, is that the cause of violence lies in the actions of the injured partner, who allegedly “provoked” the rapist. This leads to the question: “Why?”, which subconsciously justifies the rapist. It is important to remember that there is no behavioral reason for systematically resorting to violence. The only reason lies only in the rapist's penchant for sadism.
Domestic violence against women
Women most often suffer from domestic violence. What is the reason? In a partner who often has the qualities of a tyrant.
Risk factors for sexual violence include
:
- low level of education;
- childhood abuse by the perpetrator;
- observed violence between father and mother or other relatives;
- antisocial personality disorder;
- alcohol abuse.
Domestic violence in the family (against the elderly, children, other relatives)
As already mentioned, not only wives of tyrant husbands suffer from domestic violence. Children are frequent victims of fathers and mothers prone to physical and psychological violence. They do not know how to protect themselves from tyranny, they are forced to live for years in an unhealthy atmosphere, having no other choice. In the future they may themselves have a tendency to violence.
Also often victims of domestic violence are older people who are unable to protect themselves, who are ashamed to tell anyone about the tyranny happening at home, or who are afraid of receiving even more aggression from the tyrant.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle (We Have Always Lived in the Castle) 2018
Genre: Thriller, drama, detective
Rating: KinoPoisk – 5.4, IMDb – 5.5
Mark Kruger began writing the script for the film back in 2005.
Two sisters live in a large mansion - Merricat and Constance. They have a crazy uncle who is wheelchair bound. The hermit sisters rarely leave the house because everyone despises them. The fact is that once upon a time their parents were poisoned at a family dinner, and Constance was accused of murder, but the court did not find evidence of the crime and acquitted the girl. But even despite this, the hermits became targets for local residents. The girls live on an estate, and one day they are visited by a mysterious guest - cousin Charles, who surprisingly resembles his father. The young man is trying to charm his older sister Constance and wants to lure her into a cunning net, but Merricat suspects that something terrible will happen soon.
Sexual violence
In the family, in addition to physical and psychological, there is also sexual influence. Women who experience domestic violence feel humiliated, weak and worthless. A sign of sexual influence is coercion into intimacy or humiliation during sexual intercourse. The aggressor becomes a man who feels superior to his wife. During intimacy, he tries to prove the opposite. Children are also often victims of sexual violence. As adults, they develop complexes and hostility towards men. In most cases, they do not tell anyone about their problem.
I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Genre: Horror, thriller
Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.2, IMDb – 6.3
The film was originally planned to be released under the title "Revenge on the Housatonic River."
Jennifer rented a cozy house in a secluded place so that she could begin writing her next novel with peace of mind. On the way to the destination, it becomes clear that the trip will not turn out well. At a gas station, she met three horny guys who started making dirty intimate jokes about Jennifer. Very soon they will appear on the doorstep of the girl’s house. The scoundrels rape the writer and leave her to die in a pool of blood. However, Jennifer miraculously managed to survive. Now she will take revenge. Cruel and merciless.
Scale of the problem
Population-based surveys that collect information from victims provide the most accurate estimates of the prevalence of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. An analytical study conducted by WHO in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Medical Research Council of South Africa in 2013, based on available data from more than 80 countries, found that a third (35%) of women worldwide experience physical and /or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner (3).
- Global and regional estimates of violence against women
Nearly a third (30%) of all women in relationships have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner. Estimated prevalence rates of intimate partner violence range from 23.2% in high-income countries and 24.6% in the WHO Western Pacific Region, to 37% in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and 37.7% in WHO South-East Asia Region.
Up to 38% of all murders of women in the world are committed by their intimate partners. In addition to intimate partner violence, 7% of women worldwide report experiencing sexual assault by a non-partner, although data on non-partner sexual violence is more limited. Partner violence and sexual violence are most often perpetrated by men against women.
Intimate partner violence and sexual violence are perpetrated primarily by men against girls and women.
The Last House on the Left (2009)
Genre: Horror, thriller
Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.8, IMDb – 6.6
Tony Goldwyn at first did not want to star in the film because of the abundance of bloody scenes, but after watching the film “Hardcore” the actor changed his mind.
Parents and their daughter go to a country house to have a fun weekend. At first, the mother and father were surprised that their teenage daughter decided to go with them. But everything is simple - her best friend lives next to the cottage. The girls meet and meet a strange guy who has some weed. The group decides to have a grown-up fun, but suddenly criminals appear and begin to cruelly mock the girls. Then they go to the very last house on the left, where the girls’ parents live. They suspect nothing and, with a clear conscience, provide shelter to rapists. But then events begin to unfold according to a cruel scenario...
Health implications
Intimate partner violence (physical, sexual and emotional) and sexual assault lead to serious short-term and long-term physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health problems in women. These forms of violence also affect their children and impose significant social and economic costs on women, their families and society. Such violence may have the following consequences:
- It can lead to deaths in the form of murders and suicides.
- It can cause trauma: 42% of women who have experienced intimate partner violence report trauma as a result of the violence.
- The consequences of such violence can be unwanted pregnancy, induced abortion, gynecological problems and sexually acquired infections, including HIV. According to a 2013 analytical study, women who have experienced physical or sexual violence have rates of sexually transmitted infections (and in some regions, HIV) that are 1.5 times higher than those of other women who have not experienced physical violence from an intimate partner. These women are also twice as likely to have an abortion.
- Intimate partner violence during pregnancy also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight. According to the same 2013 study, women who have experienced intimate partner violence are 16% more likely to have a miscarriage and 41% more likely to have a preterm birth.
- These forms of abuse can lead to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety disorders, sleep problems, eating disorders and suicide attempts. A 2013 policy analysis found that women who had experienced intimate partner violence were nearly twice as likely to develop depression and alcohol use problems as other women.
- Other health effects may also include headache, back pain, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal distress, limited mobility and poor general health.
- Sexual abuse, especially in childhood, can increase the likelihood of smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, and risky sexual behavior later in life. It is also correlated with perpetration of violence (for men) and exposure to violence as a victim (for women).
Impact on children
- Children growing up in violent homes may suffer from a range of behavioral and emotional disorders that may contribute to their perpetration or exposure to violence later in life.
- Intimate partner violence is also associated with increased mortality and morbidity in infants and young children (eg, due to diarrheal diseases and malnutrition).
Social and economic costs
The social and economic costs of intimate partner violence and sexual violence are enormous and have a range of long-term consequences for society. Women may suffer from isolation, inability to work, loss of earnings, lack of participation in normal activities, and reduced ability to care for themselves and their children.
Slavery (Trade) 2007
Genre: Thriller, drama, crime
Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.4, IMDb – 7.4
The role of Veronica was supposed to go to Milla Jovovich, but the actress refused to take part in the filming of the film.
The list of the best films about violence against girls includes the film “Slavery,” in which a little girl fell into the hands of sexual maniacs. Mexican Jorge robs American tourists without much remorse. The guy stuffs his pockets with money, jewelry and other trinkets. He is sure that life is a real thrill! But one day the hero learns that criminals have kidnapped his 13-year-old sister and forced her into sexual slavery. Life immediately began to play with dark colors. Jorge's friends and relatives are afraid to help their friend, since the Russian mafia is involved in the case. Only policeman Ray agrees to help Jorge, because he also had the same situation 10 years ago. Together they will have to confront a dangerous criminal gang.
