How do shifting family dynamics increase stress that could perhaps lead to domestic/intimate partner violence?
Shifting family dynamics can be the perfect recipe for domestic violence. More men have been laid off than women during this recession. My research and that of others suggests that men engage in intimate partner violence when their masculinity is threatened. One core component of masculinity is breadwinning. So, when men are laid off they may feel emasculated, which might lead them to use violence to re-assert their masculinity. This will be even more likely if they experience a “role reversal” and the wife is now the breadwinner, who expects him to take care of the home and kids while she’s at work. If she comes home and nags him for not taking care of things at home, it is likely that this will ratchet up his feelings of being emasculated and the risk for IPV increases. Q: Are some groups affected more than others? A: New data from the Bureau of Justice statistics indicate that both the rate of domestic violence and domestic violence homicide are now significantly higher among Africa
