Hatty: Bodily Harm

In this chapter, Hatty discusses what is defined as violent by society and under what circumstances violence is viewed as appropriate. She especially discusses how societal ideas about gender roles can influence our perceptions about the appropriateness of violence or the need for legal intervention in violent situations. One concept that I found particularly insightful is that naming actions as violent is a political process. To me, this means that our societal stereotypes and norms are also institutionalized into the legal framework for dealing with violence. This is dangerous because whether something is labeled as “violent” determines what the “appropriate” reactions to and feelings about that behavior should be. For example, if our legal system, either in actuality or de facto, does not take domestic violence seriously, this could eventually mean that physical harm inflicted by a romantic partner is no longer viewed as a violent act and reinforces the common notion that it is normal, “not a big deal,” or something that should be dealt with in the home.

Another concept I found interesting is that there are significant gender differences in the perception of aggression and violence. While for men violence is seen as necessary for maintaining control, for women violence feels like a loss of control (over themselves). These fundamentally opposite viewpoints lead to a lot of misunderstandings between the sexes and may point to a need for education between men and women that explains the differing perceptions and helps us to communicate better and work together more productively, whether it be in personal or professional relationships.