DYSPRAXIA AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGIANST MEN

According To Travis (1999)
“Men are increasingly the victims of domestic violence, and are just as likely as women to be assaulted by a partner, according to Home Office research published yesterday.

The men most likely to be attacked are in their early 30s and unmarried, but living with a woman.
The findings, from the British Crime Survey, show there are some 6.6 million incidents of assault in the home each year, evenly split between men and women.
But the research also shows that women are twice as likely to be injured, and are much more likely to suffer repeated attacks. They are also less likely to be in a financial position to be able to leave a violent relationship.

It also shows that the rise in domestic attacks on men by women is a 1990s phenomenon. In 1995 just over 4 per cent of men and women said they had been assaulted by a current or former partner in the last year. But 23 per cent of women said they had been assaulted by a partner at some time - compared with 15 per cent of men.

Women are at greatest risk of attack after a relationship has broken up or they and their spouse have separated. The researchers say women have a different emotional reaction to separation, and are less likely to use violence to express their feelings: ''Women's violence against men is, therefore, more likely to be within the context of an relationship.''

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WOMEN

According to Hauge and Malos (1993)
"The common expression 'rule of thumb', the origin of expression derives from the right of man to beat his wife with a stick providing it is no thicker than his thumb"
In Britain the law allowing women to be punished in this way was stopped in 1882, but the beatings still carry on.

DYSPRAXIA AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

In my opinion women living with dyspraxia are more likely to experience domestic violence, due to them being unable to meet the stereotypical gender roles society expects women to achieve. For example good house keeping skills, cooking ironing caused by having a hidden disability.

A non-dyspraxic partner can criticize their dyspraxic partner in a cruel way in front of their children and encourage the children to join in with the ridicule. A woman living with dyspraxia may have difficulties maintaining the perfect fashionable groomed appearance portrayed by the media, due to her co-ordination difficulties. She may have problems brushing her hair and putting on make-up. She may choose clothes that are easy to fasten which may not be the latest fashion, causing their partner to criticisce her for not making an effort to look good for him.
A dyspraxic male may be br belitled by his partner for his attempts at DIY and sports.

A mother living with dyspraxia may have difficulties with childcare, this may be criticised if the dyspraxia is not recognised or the father may refuse to help and ignore her needs. This added stress can make mild dyspraxia more severe.

Dyspraxics of either gender can be easily manipulated by their partners and may tolerate emotional and physical abuse rather than deciding to live as a single person and feel that they would not cope on their own or may be trapped by financial circumstances.

In my experience both men and women who live with dyspraxia suffer bullying and discrimination from an early age. This results in internalised oppression and low self-esteem. This can continue when she/he is an adult if his/her dyspraxia is misunderstood at work. Partners who are controlling are more likely to choose a person who has low self-esteem in a relationship, because of their venerability. Especially if he/she has not developed the self-confidence to make decisions for her/himself, due to low expectations and of society, others lack of understanding or due to the label dyspraxia. This learned helplessness can affect a dyspraxic person’s’ self esteem and also explain the circumstances of isolation and dependence and isolation in which those people find themselves.

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