Research Question
What are the factors (cultural, individual and social) which lead to family violence among females?
Independent variable (IV): Social, individual and cultural factors
Dependent variable (DV): Domestic violence
Literature Review
Concept of Family Violence With Females
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According to the view of Papas, Hollingdrake and Currie (2023), family violence is stated as a type of abuse within which one of the family members violates the other person. In general, within family violence, the most common type of family violence is domestic violence only. With the studies, it is identified that domestic violence is stated as the pattern of behaviour which is abusive towards the partner (generally female) who is being suppressed by the dominating partner (male) in the relationship. Thus, as a result of this, the males abuse and harass their intimate partner present within the relationship.
On the other side Zark, Toumbourou and Satyen (2023) argued that domestic violence is stated as any of the behaviour of the person which is threatening and violent against their partner, and this makes the partner scared and fearful. Within Australia and other countries as well, domestic violence is high, and in most cases, the perpetrator is a male. Thus, with this, it can be stated that the violence takes place against females only as they are treated as the weaker segment of society. Truong et al, (2022) stated that this violence takes place with the females in different formats, and this can include physical, emotional, sexual, and financial, technology-led abuse, and many other types of abuse. All this abuse creates a huge impact on the working and thinking of women, and as a result, their position in society is also weakened.
Fiolet et al, (2021) outlined that domestic and family violence is highly prevailing within Australia and other parts of the world as well. The statistics revealed that based on the data from 2021-2022, a total of 3.8 million Australians have reported that they have been experiencing domestic and family violence. Also, it was identified that nearly 3.6 million people have been experiencing emotional abuse, and the proportion of women is 23% whereas the men is 14%. This simply means that the perpetrators of the violence are males, and they are only committing more of the cases relating to domestic violence. This implies that currently, the cases of domestic violence have increased, and as a result of this, the overall working environment has improved.
Different Factors Promoting Violence Against Women
Mayshak et al, (2022) states that domestic violence with the females is currently increasing, and as a result of this, the current state of women in Australia is not good. The women in Australia are not respected, and as a result, the violence is increasing greatly. Hence, there are many different types of factors which promote the increase in domestic violence against females. Soh et al, (2021) stated that one of the most common types of factors is the individual factor. The individual factor includes issues like anger, personality disorders, use of substance abuse and many other aspects. The males are generally very egoistic and feel inferior in case their women are more active.
Thus, to keep their ego satisfied, they beat their female partner and suppress them and do not allow them to work better than the males. Thus, this increases the chances of domestic abuse, and this affects the condition of the women, and this becomes even worse. Many times, the individual who has a history of aggressive behaviour then they is more interested in conducting violence against their partner. Also, many of the males have the habit of taking substances like drugs, alcohol, and when they consume such things, they tend to show the wrong behaviour against the women, and ultimately, the males end up discriminating against the females.
Buchanan, Borgkvist and Moulding (2025) also stated that, along with individual behaviour, there are different social and cultural factors as well, which can increase violence against women. The most common type of factor is the male-dominant society. The current society and its working environment are generally male-dominant, and as a result, females are generally suppressed. Also, the thinking of the people is based on gender stereotypes, and according to it the women are not allowed to work in the corporate environment (Factors associated with FDSV, 2025). Also, it is prejudiced that women have to live their lives according to the instructions of the male partner only.
Thus, it increases the chances of violence against women, and ultimately, it affects their condition to a great extent. Further, Carrington et al, (2021) also argued that there is very inadequate social support available for the women within the country, and as a result of this, the domestic violence is increasing greatly. Moreover, it was also seen that when a woman faces any kind of domestic violence and if she thinks of reporting it, then the other people and family members tend to demotivate the woman, and she is forced to avoid the situation. Many times, the people explain to the women that they have to face the situation, and there is no solution available for this violence.
Along with this, Montesanti et al, (2025) also criticised the fact that the educational aspect is also a factor which sometimes leads to an increase in domestic violence cases. Since starting, based on gender discrimination the females are not provided with good educational support, and as a result, they are not well-educated. Hence, as a result, they are highly involved in the household work and also early marriages take place. This increases household activities, and many times, the women also do not have proper knowledge of the actions to be taken in case of domestic or any other type of violence. Thus, as a result of this, the females are not allowed to take any action against the domestic violence taking place against them. Ultimately, this motivates the males, and resultantly they conduct intense domestic violence practices against women.
Moreover, Green, Satyen and Toumbourou (2024) also outlined through their work that there are more factors which increases and stimulates the males to conduct violence. With the rigid stereotypes, the males have all the authority and decision-making over their female partners. This fact also leads to an increase in the chances of domestic violence. This is because with this, the males try to control all the activities of their female partner, and this is also a type of violence. Many times, the males do not allow their partners to go out or use the phone or any other social media platforms. Hence, the female is totally dependent on their male partners for every aspect, whether they needs to go they needs some money or any other aspect. Thus, with this attitude, the males think that they can control the females, and this increases the chances of violence against the females.
Also, Arisukwu et al, (2021) argued that with the workings of the society as well, domestic violence is promoted. This is because of the reason that society also promotes discrimination based on gender, and women are oppressed in the workplace. At the public gathering, workplace, schools and other areas as well, the women are oppressed and not treated with dignity. Hence, this is also promoted among the people, and they tend to discriminate against women at home and in their personal lives as well. Thus, it can be stated that the different factors, like the individual, social and cultural factors, tend to increase the domestic violence effectively.
Impact of Violence on the Physical and Mental Health of Women
According to the views of Kuskoff, Clarke and Parsell (2022), the violence against women creates a major impact on the mind and state of the women. This is because when the woman is continuously harassed then it affects her mental and physical state of the women to a great extent. When continuous violence is faced by women, then stress and depression are the most common impacts which is created on the mental health (Impacts of family violence, 2025). The females tend to develop depression, and as a result of this, their overall health is impacted, and eventually, they are not able to live a normal life. They are stressed and also do not like to live with the person, but do not have any choice.
Henry et al, (2022) also stated that another crucial impact created on the state of women includes the development of suicidal tendencies. Many times, the females get frustrated, and as a result, they tend to commit suicide as they are not capable of handling the violence, and resultantly they try to end their lives. Further, Rasmussen et al, (2025) also stated that with the high domestic violence, the chronic health conditions are also increased. With more physical violence, the internal system and immune system of women are affected. Also, they tend to get irritable bowel syndrome along with different physical injuries, resulting in chronic stress is also improved. Also, with the high level of domestic violence, the females can indulge in the consumption of drugs, alcohol and other substances. Thus, as a result of this, the changes in behaviour are witnessed, and this impacts the mental and physical health of women greatly.
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REFERENCES
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Arisukwu, O., Igbolekwu, C., Adebisi, T., & Akindele, F. (2021). Perception of domestic violence among rural women in Kuje. Heliyon, 7(2).
- Buchanan, F., Borgkvist, A., & Moulding, N. (2025). What helps young people in Australia create healthy relationships after growing up in domestic violence?. Journal of Family Violence, 40(5), 847-861.
- Carrington, K., Morley, C., Warren, S., Ryan, V., Ball, M., Clarke, J., & Vitis, L. (2021). The impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on Australian domestic and family violence services and their clients. Australian journal of social issues, 56(4), 539-558.
- Fiolet, R., Tarzia, L., Hameed, M., & Hegarty, K. (2021). Indigenous peoples’ help-seeking behaviors for family violence: A scoping review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(2), 370-380.
- Green, J., Satyen, L., & Toumbourou, J. W. (2024). Influence of cultural norms on formal service engagement among survivors of intimate partner violence: A qualitative meta-synthesis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(1), 738-751.
- Henry, N., Vasil, S., Flynn, A., Kellard, K., & Mortreux, C. (2022). Technology-facilitated domestic violence against immigrant and refugee women: A qualitative study. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(13-14), NP12634-NP12660.
- Kuskoff, E., Clarke, A., & Parsell, C. (2022). What about men? The marginalization of men who engage in domestic violence. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(13-14), NP11582-NP11604.
- Mayshak, R., Curtis, A., Coomber, K., Tonner, L., Walker, A., Hyder, S., ... & Miller, P. (2022). Alcohol-involved family and domestic violence reported to police in Australia. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(3-4), NP1658-NP1685.
- Montesanti, S., Goveas, D., Bali, K., & Campbell, S. (2025). Exploring factors shaping primary health care readiness to respond to family violence: Findings from a rapid evidence assessment. Journal of Family Violence, 40(5), 963-985.
- Papas, L., Hollingdrake, O., & Currie, J. (2023). Social determinant factors and access to health care for women experiencing domestic and family violence: qualitative synthesis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(5), 1633-1649.
- Rasmussen, V., Spangaro, J., Steel, Z., Briggs, N., & Torok, M. (2025). Trajectories to suicide following intimate partner violence victimization: Using structural equation modelling to examine suicide and PTSD in female emergency department users. Journal of Family Violence, 40(4), 811-825.
- Soh, H. J., Grigg, J., Gurvich, C., Gavrilidis, E., & Kulkarni, J. (2021). Family violence: an insight into perspectives and practices of Australian health practitioners. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(5-6), NP2391-NP2409.
- Truong, M., Sharif, M., Olsen, A., Pasalich, D., Calabria, B., & Priest, N. (2022). Attitudes and beliefs about family and domestic violence in faith‐based communities: an exploratory qualitative study. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 57(4), 880-897.
- Zark, L., Toumbourou, J. W., & Satyen, L. (2023). Help-seeking for intimate partner and family violence among tertiary students in Australia: Nature, extent, and cross-cultural differences. Journal of family violence, 38(3), 491-508.
- Zark, L., Toumbourou, J. W., & Satyen, L. (2024). Intimate partner and family violence among women tertiary students in Australia: Prevalence and cross-cultural differences. Violence against women, 30(2), 394-425.
- Online
- Factors associated with FDSV. 2025. Online. Available through: <https://www.aihw.gov.au/family-domestic-and-sexual-violence/understanding-fdsv/factors-associated-with-fdsv>
- Impacts of family violence. 2025. Online. Available through: <https://safeandequal.org.au/understanding-family-violence/impacts/>
