Citation

Gondolf EW, Shestakov D. Violence Against Women 1997; 3(5): 533-546.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12322018

Abstract

Research on spousal homicide has led to the emergence of a multifactor model that suggests a relationship between violence and the indicators of social disorganization, normative violence, gender inequality, and community resources. This study uses this framework to organize information about spousal homicide in Russia gleaned from secondary sources, interviews, and collaborative surveys. After an introduction, the first section defines the four indicators and data sources. Next, the article discusses the fact that Russia's spousal homicide rate appears to be 1.7 times that of the US, with a tripled likelihood in Russia that the victim will be a woman. The article then examines each of the four indicators in an attempt to explain the level and nature of spousal homicide in Russia. It is concluded that the high level of male-perpetrated spousal homicide is associated with high levels of social disorganization and normative violence, which appear to be interrelated in some fashion. The role of gender inequality is less clear because the status of women is contradictory, with official gender equality existing to advance state goals rather than to create individual protections or advance personal rights. Thus, there is a lack of community resources to deal with domestic violence.

Language: en