History of Domestic Violence Sociology Term Papers

It has often been regarded as normality when a husband physically assaulted his wife. The male citizens of ancient Rome had the legal right to “punish” their wives if they refused to obey their rules. However, there was a short period during the 300’s, when such domestic violence manifested by the husband gave the wife the right to seek a divorce legally. In the Middle Ages, a husband had the legal right to beat his wife if she violated her duties as dictated by conventions of the society. What is more, neighbours used to expect such beatings. Domestic violence was unsparing because marriages were usually arranged and seldom made out of feelings of love between husband and wife. This tolerance toward wife beating maintained until the end of the 1800’s when society started to view such behavior as indecent, although husbands who inflicted violence upon their wives were not legally punished for such behavior. Nevertheless, even in the1940’s in England, husbands could physically assault or punish their wives if they displayed disobedience to them. Legal protection for wives who suffer from domestic violence is still limited in many countries, and the United States is no exception. However, there are many shelters for women who suffer abuse from their husbands around the country.