Gender Violence and Neoliberalism

[Jimmie Higgins]

A general trigger-warning for the subject matter

Explaining gender violence 
in the neoliberal era


http://isreview.org/issue/91/explaining-gender-violence-neoliberal-era

an interesting look at some of the ways that neoliberalism has impacted social reproduction which has in turn created increases in sexism and violence.

[tuwix]

It's not very surprising, when it is obvious that neoliberalism is just another form of conservatism.

[tallguy]

I don't think gender violence is necessarily directly related to neo-liberalism any more than any other economic/political system. I think the main things that most impact this specific type of violence are:

1) A cultural history of high levels of coercive patriarchy.

2) Testosterone in conjunction with the different physical capacities of men and women.

3) Rapid changes in economic and consequent cultural circumstances leading to high levels of stress in a population.

Now, I do accept it is fair to say that neo-liberalism may indirectly impact on gender violence due to the fact that, by it's very nature, it fosters and promotes rapid changes in economic circumstances. But, mostly it comes down to (1) and (2). Probably, mostly (2), sadly. however, I should note, (2) probably gets worse in the presence of high levels of (3). That is to say, men (due to having high levels of testosterone) are more likely to be violently aggressive per-se in the presence of significant economic stressors.

[Jimmie Higgins]

I don't think gender violence is necessarily directly related to neo-liberalism any more than any other economic/political system. I think the main things that most impact this specific type of violence are:

1) A cultural history of high levels of coercive patriarchy.

2) Testosterone in conjunction with the different physical capacities of men and women.

3) Rapid changes in economic and consequent cultural circumstances leading to high levels of stress in a population.

Now, I do accept it is fair to say that neo-liberalism may indirectly impact on gender violence due to the fact that, by it's very nature, it fosters and promotes rapid changes in economic circumstances. But, mostly it comes down to (1) and (2). Probably, mostly (2), sadly. however, I should note, (2) probably gets worse in the presence of high levels of (3). That is to say, men (due to having high levels of testosterone) are more likely to be violently aggressive per-se in the presence of significant economic stressors.

I don't think the article was arguing that neoliberalism alone is the sole cause and part of the argument is that explanations for this violence citing economic instability and alienation as a cause don't fully explain why these stresses might manifest themselves as an increase in this kind of violence - "why don't women go home and beat up their husbands when there is economic stress if this is the cause?".

I don't think testosterone is an adequate explanation however. Men and women have testosterone, even if someone has abnormal levels of testosterone that might cause them to lash out (like someone with "'roid rage") it wouldn't explain why they would lash out in these particular ways. At any rate, a biological answer wouldn't explain fluxuations in this sort of violence or why it might be different in the same population at different times or different from region to region even when the cultural backgrounds are more or less the same. Further biological reasons wouldn't explain the cultural acceptance or excuse of this such as blaming rape-victims... I doubt that testosterone is the reason that Judges would rule against women in these cases, why University administrations would cover them up, etc.

[tallguy]

I don't think the article was arguing that neoliberalism alone is the sole cause and part of the argument is that explanations for this violence citing economic instability and alienation as a cause don't fully explain why these stresses might manifest themselves as an increase in this kind of violence - "why don't women go home and beat up their husbands when there is economic stress if this is the cause?".

I don't think testosterone is an adequate explanation however. Men and women have testosterone, even if someone has abnormal levels of testosterone that might cause them to lash out (like someone with "'roid rage") it wouldn't explain why they would lash out in these particular ways. At any rate, a biological answer wouldn't explain fluxuations in this sort of violence or why it might be different in the same population at different times or different from region to region even when the cultural backgrounds are more or less the same. Further biological reasons wouldn't explain the cultural acceptance or excuse of this such as blaming rape-victims... I doubt that testosterone is the reason that Judges would rule against women in these cases, why University administrations would cover them up, etc.
I didn't say testosterone was the single cause. What I have argued is that it is the foundation stone upon which culture and economics serve as exacerbators or diminishers. And the reason why women don't go home and beat their husbands when faced with economic stressors (though some do, so let's not kid ourselves on that front) is twofold; testosterone in men is far higher and men are bigger and stronger than women. It's as brutally simple as that.

And most men don't beat women, by the way (though, of course, some do). So let's not forget that either. Or, at least, if my personal experience of them is anything to go by, which is admittedly based on my own cultural circle.