1. cultural/traditional influences
1.1. patriarchy
1.1.1. deep historical roots stemming back centuries
1.1.2. marriage seen as hierarchy (husbands above wives)
1.1.2.1. men have right to control/discipline women (fathers, brothers, spouses)
1.1.2.1.1. few property rights for women
1.1.2.1.2. men to rule the home; women to remain subordinate
1.1.2.2. DV is a private/family matter, not a social matter
1.1.2.2.1. "what happens in the home stays in the home"
1.2. DV viewed as a victim problem, not a perpetrator problem
1.2.1. victim blaming
1.2.2. "battered women syndrome"
2. situational factors related to DV
2.1. alcohol/substance misuse
2.2. financial strain/economic downturns
2.3. retaliation resulting from abusers loss of power
2.3.1. rights stripped from abusers
2.3.1.1. keeping abusers from homes, children, etc.
2.4. trauma
2.4.1. ptsd
2.4.1.1. prior abuse
2.5. mental illness
3. institutional contributions
3.1. limited focus on victim rights/protection
3.1.1. greater focus on swift/immediate punishment of perpetrators
3.1.1.1. little critical attention towards threat of retaliation
3.2. legal protection
3.2.1. order of protection; restraining order; anti-harassment order; no contact order
3.2.1.1. limited resources to ensure integrity of protection orders
3.2.1.1.1. heavy caseloads for parole officers
3.2.1.1.2. variance in determining priority calls for law enforcement too great
3.2.1.2. no legitimate way to ensure protection orders are being obeyed until it is too late
3.2.1.2.1. law enforcement notified after protection orders have been breached
3.2.1.3. no rights for victims to ensure protection orders won't be breached
3.2.1.3.1. no legitimate resources to keep victims informed of whereabouts of perpetrators
3.3. judicial discretion too great
3.3.1. often not compliant with fears/demands of victims and prosecutors