Violence against women and institutional responses: the case of Greece

Abstract

The myth of the family as a harbour of safety has long now been shattered. Prior to the 1970s, this myth had been kept alive by the historical and traditional view that what happens within a marriage is private and not open to public scrutiny. It is now well known and established that 'women are more likely to be assaulted in their own homes and by people they know than outdoors by strangers' (Home Office Statistical Findings, 1996, p. 2). Still, only an average of 25% of domestic violence crimes are ever reported. Astonishingly the remaining 75% occurs in silence (European Women's Lobby, 2000). Public services such as the police and the social services are at the front point of agencies that deal with this problem and handle domestic violence cases. Still, more empirical research needs to be done to address the effectiveness of their work as assessed both by the victims themselves and the professionals. This paper documents evidence given by Greek abused women with respect to their perceptions of support provided by formal services and stresses the need for evidence from the professionals to be further researched. Background information and literature review

Applying the concept of lifestyle in association with aggression and violence in Greek cohabitating couples

“…One limitation of the present study emerged as a result of the cultural difference characterizing the Greek population. Specifically, this study employed merely the Greek population, which in turn appeared to be quite reluctant to make their unpleasant familial experiences public, as this could stigmatize them [Chatzifotiou, 2003]. Even though the research was conducted in urban areas, populations were shown to be quite introverted and conservative not deviating from the characteristics of traditional societies.…”

Seeking for Risk Factors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in a Greek National Sample

“…Some of the findings revealed a protective effect of tradition/religiousness against physical and sexual violence, whereas the workaholic lifestyle and the lifestyle of sports interest appeared to increase the risk of sexual violence (Tzamalouka et al, 2007). Before these two nationwide surveys, existing data were based on case studies and on regular reports of individual agencies providing services to victims of family violence (e.g., telephone help lines, shelters ;Chatzifotiou 2003;Chatzifotiou & Dobash, 2001). Some additional but limited information on the typology of IPV victimization and perpetration also derives from police reports, only when such cases reach the court of law and perpetrators are punished.…”

A Solution-Focused Intervention with a Youth in a Domestic Violence Situation: Longitudinal Evidence

“…In Greek culture there is social stigma associated with reporting domestic abuse (Chatzifotiou 2003;Georgiades 2003;Stathopoulou 2004). Moreover, Greeks are hesitant to seek an outside therapist for mental health challenges (e.g., Papadatou et al 1995).…”