Discussion Responses

Please use text book as your main source: Gosselin, D. K. (2019). Family and intimate partner violence: Heavy hands. Please respond to all 4 of my classmates discussion posts: 1. Jenaire Feimster posted Jan 21, 2024 11:34 PM After reading chapter 2, I found the historical period of The Roman Empire to be compelling. According to the textbook, the male is the head of the household, and he has all control over the family, their finances, and all property. The male was the judge, jury, and executioner in his home; this theory can cause many different types of violence in the home. During that time if the wife didn’t perform her daily chores or maintained the household or the children, the husband could discipline his wife and there were no consequences for his actions. The abuse could then be handed down to their children. For example, if the father is abusive to his wife, he may also be abusive to his children. If I were to create a program for preventing intimate partner violence, I would start by having the family seek counseling for the first five years of their marriage. Many people jump into a marriage, and they never really have the opportunity to get to know each other. Years ago, most marriages were arranged, and you had no knowledge about your partner or their family history. Counseling can provide a channel of communication for the couple which would allow them work on coping skills within their marriage. It can also provide a way for the male/husband to release his angry/frustration. Instead of beating his wife or the children when he is upset. He can get the counseling that he needs to address his issues. Unfortunately, during that time the men handled all of the family’s issues/concerns and the weight/burden of those issues/concerns were on the man’s shoulders. Finding an outlet for the male is hard and it’s also hard for men to admit that they need help. I believe that counseling would be a great start to help men gather or create a circle of support. Even in today’s society, it is hard for men to ask for help or admit that they need help. What might hinder my program would be that most people don’t want to share any issues or concerns that may occur in their household. If you are not able to discuss your concerns it will be hard to get the help that you may need. 2. Amber Flint posted Jan 17, 2024 9:35 AM The early Roman Empire was compelling to me. Men were given essentially all power over women and children and women basically just had to accept it. During this time, not only were women and children treated as property of the husband or father but women were allowed no legal rights to protect themselves of the abuse inflicted on them by their spouse or fathers (Gosselin, 2019). This abuse and control held by husbands and fathers was considered normal and there were no consequences to men. It was made known that women and children were essentially owned by the man and that he was the one who holds all control. Husbands were initially allowed the right to kill their wives if adultery was committed and this was later decided that the father should do this instead; women have been beaten to death for things as simple as consuming wine-which was illegal at the time (Gosselin, 2019). If given the opportunity during this time period, I would fight to enforce laws preventing ownership of women and children and fight for women's legal rights. I would encourage and empower women to break free of their bonds to their husbands or fathers. I would create a safe space where women could escape to. I'd come up with plans to remove women and children from homes where they feel endangered or threatened but are too fearful to leave on their own. This would be an incredible challenge since women were seen as nothing more than property to men but if all the women were to come together and fight back, making real changes would not be impossible. Gosselin, D. K. (2019). Family and intimate partner violence: Heavy hands (6th ed.). Pearson. 3. Sheneke Cowell posted Jan 22, 2024 9:24 PM M1.1 Discussion: A Historical Context and IPV Summarize a historical period discussed in Chapter 2 that you found most compelling. The historical period that I found most compelling is The Christian Era as it is the only era that woman was not demoralized or beaten. Yes, they would be sentences to death for adultery. This era followed the bible teachings that men or the head of their household and women. A passage from the New Testament, Ephesians 5:22–24, specifically states the role of a married woman according to the Church: “Wives should regard their husbands as they regard the Lord, since as Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head of his wife; and as the Church submits to Christ, so should wives to their husbands, in everything” (Gosselin, 2018, p. 33) Then create a program for preventing or intervening in either (choose one) child abuse, intimate partner violence or elder abuse that would be appropriate for that time period. In response to Christianity endorsing male dominance and the justification of intimate partner violence, I would create a program that promotes love and harmony in Christian families. The program would aim to promote healthy relationships for the family and provide education and support to address intimate partner violence. Education: Study the bible which would teach both husband and wife how to love one another in Christ. We will also incorporate teachings on mutual respect, love, and non-violence within marriage. We provide scriptures promoting love, forgiveness, and understanding within marriage. “1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”. Community support: I would have two groups one for the men and the other women. In these groups they will be able to speak freely and ask for help or advice on to deal with issues the arise in their marriage. As you describe your program, keep in mind the historical family/gender undercurrents, legal and political climate, and socio-cultural norms of the time. Discuss how these might help or hinder your efforts. Considering the times, I believe my program would be harmful since the men would see it as we are trying to turn their wives against them, however, I would give them my word that program is to help the whole family live in love, peace and harmony. Gosselin, D. K. (2018). Family and intimate partner violence: Heavy Hands (6th ed.) Pearson Education. 30 Bible Verses About Marriage and Love Scripture Quotes (biblestudytools.com) 4. Christina Langille posted Jan 19, 2024 12:29 PM During the Roman empire, a man had full authority over his wife. She was nothing more than legal property as were his children and slaves. Romulus, Rome’s founder was the one who initially set marriage laws in ancient Rome in 753 b.c. Wives were expected to adjust their lives and behaviors according to the husbands wishes. Women had no recourse legally and were able for some infractions to be put to death by her husband. Men, unlike women, were also allowed to seek a divorce, but in most cases, doing so was at a financial loss to the husband. I believe with the political climate in ancient Rome, there would probably not much of a chance in steering away from the thoughts toward women in the era. I think that if women were treated more on equal footing and not just as property, then the best way to address intimate partner violence would initially be monetarily. If a man was found to have committed an act of violence against his spouse, a court would award the wife a certain percentage of his finances and property. If this continued after a financial judgement, the next step would be jailing the man. If there was a situation that brought about the death of the wife, he would also be put to death. I would have allowed women to seek out divorces with no grounds necessary. Women would not have been considered property by their husbands and fathers and could not be forced into marriage. Treating a woman as property would have been considered a form of abuse and would have been dealt with as such. Gosselin, D. K. (2019). Family and intimate partner violence: Heavy hands (sixth). New York, NY: Pearson.