Dr Boddé is Program Director for the Prevention of Violence
against Women - an initiative of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. She is a
Senior Partner and Researcher at Kempster Consultants, and MCD Research
Associate, University of Divinity
Some
religious leaders are under the wrong impression that violence toward women is
only physical and thus not worthy of the same
level of concern or action from other distinct forms. This is especially
true when the violence is psychological. When I talk about
non-physical violence, I’m not speaking of the occasional fight, or ups and
downs of any normal relationship. I’m talking about patterns over time.
Controlling behaviors, shaming, refusing to listen, talking over you, blaming,
emotional abuse, yelling, lying, neglecting, stalking, inappropriate sexual
pressure, intimidation and psychological manipulation are all examples of violence.
By reducing violence to physical harm not only conceals violence
against women but it is a key contributor to dangerous
pastoral and theological responses. For example, some religious leaders believe
that domestic violence is perpetrated equally by men and women (Skiff 2010),
lends itself to distorted beliefs about marriage and divorce , such as, divorcing the abuser would be
wrong and equivalent to breaking a covenant with God, (Nash 2006, Ringel et
als. 2008; Popescu et als. 2009; Zakar et als. 2011), recommendations that women stay in abusive relationships (Levitt &
Ware 2006), try to be better wives, and ‘forgive and forget’ (Fortune et als.
2005, Potter 2007), sermons that speak without nuance of the virtue of
‘submitting to the will of God,’ for example, or of the way in which ‘God sends
us suffering to test our faith,’ (Tkacz 2006). As well, attitudes that attribute
blame to the victim of violence, for example, seeking fault in the women’s
behaviour (Levitt and Ware (2006b Z), trivialising violence and its impact or, excusing
perpetrators from direct
responsibility (Aosved & Long 2006;
Steinmetz et als. 2006; Anderson 2007, Jankowski et als.
2011) and, reluctance by faith orgainsations to take
responsibility for violence, such as,
identifying organisational
structures and institutional practices that discriminate against women (West
2006). Stated
simply, the reality is that alongside the trauma of violence, a majority of
women will be dealing with some aspect of religious beliefs and teachings which
will serve either as a resource or a roadblock. The task for religious
leadership is twofold: 1) to recognise that religious beliefs, texts, and
teachings can serve both as roadblocks and as resources for victims of violence
and 2) to deepen our examination of religious texts and teachings and explore
new interpretations so that we minimise the roadblocks and maximise the
resources for women. No woman should ever be forced to choose between
safety and her faith community or tradition. She should be able to access
the resources of both.
Andersen, J. (2007). Woman submit!
Christians and domestic violence.
One Way Cafe Press, Auburndale
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Jankowski, P. , Johnson, Andy J., Damron, H. & Smischney T, (2011). Religiosity, intolerant attitudes, and domestic violence myth acceptance, International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 21, 163-182.
Levitt & Ware, K. N. (2006). Anything with two
heads is a monster: religious leaders' perspectives on marital equality and
domestic violence. Violence Against Women.12 (12), 1-22.
Nash
, S.T. & Hesterberg, L (2009).Biblical framings of and responses to spousal violence in the narratives
of abused Christian women. Violence Against Women, 15 (3), 340-361.
Popescu, M. & Drumm, R. (2008).
Spirituality: A healing tool or an aggravating factor? Domestic violence in
faith communities. Social Work Journal, 74(8),
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Steinmetz,
Simona; Haj-yahia, Muhammad M. (2006). Definitions of and beliefs about wife
abuse among ultraorthodox Jewish men from Israel, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(4), 525-554.
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testament women nameless, silent, passive victims? Retrieved from
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West, Traci C. (2006). An antiracist Christian
ethical approach to violence resistance, In INCITE! Women of Colour against
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