Battered Women and Their Animal Companions: Symbolic Interaction Between Human and Nonhuman Animals

Abstract

Only recently have sociologists considered the role of nonhuman animals in human society. The few studies undertaken of battered women and their animal companions have revealed high rates of animal abuse co-existing with domestic violence. This study examines several aspects of the relationship between humans and animals in violent homes. The study explored the role of companion animals in the abusive relationship through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with clients at a battered women's shelter. In particular, the study focused on the use of companion animals by women's violent partners to control, hurt, and intimidate the women; the responses of the animals to the women's victimization; and the role of pets as human surrogates and the resulting symbolic interaction between human and nonhuman family members. The significance of the findings for family violence research and application are discussed, as well as the broader implications for sociological investigation of human-animal interaction.

Examining the links between animal abuse and human violence

“…Pet abuse and woman-battering Several empirical studies have now clearly established a connection between pet abuse and woman-battering [5,7,17,18,20,22,25,42]. According to the data, between one-half to three-fourths of battered women with pets report that their companion animals have been threatened, harmed or killed by their abusers.…”

Conceptualizaciones acerca de los animales en niños de la sociedad mayoritaria y de la comunidad indígena Uitoto en Colombia.

“…Los estudios muestran que la convivencia con animales como perros, gatos, o peces, se constituye en compañía para mitigar los efectos de la soledad y el estrés (Flynn, 2000, Brown 2002); la investigación que aquí se resume tiene como punto de partida estas perspectivas psicológicas a partir de la exploración del sistema de constructos de los niños de la sociedad mayoritaria colombiana y de comunidades, también colombianas, como la Uitoto, en las que la apreciación y valoración por los animales son favorecidas por la interacción y afiliación continua con la naturaleza.…”

Animals as Lifechangers and Lifesavers

“…This intersection of topics engages this research with several literatures. The analysis has an obvious affinity for the literature on human-animal interaction, and it adds a previously unarticulated role for animals to this body of work (Arluke 1987(Arluke , 2002(Arluke , 2003(Arluke , 2004(Arluke , 2006(Arluke , 2010Arluke and Sanders 1996;Fitzgerald 2007;Flynn 2000aFlynn , 2000bIrvine 2004aIrvine , 2004bJerolmack 2007aJerolmack , 2007bJerolmack , 2009Sanders 1990Sanders , 1991Sanders , 1993Sanders , 2003Sanders , 2007. It also adds to the literature on the construction of self-worth among the homeless and the marginal (Anderson and Snow 2001;Gowan 2010;Snow and Anderson 1993;Wasserman and Clair 2010).…”