Something to keep in mind is that some models of domestic abuse aren't really that consistent with the Bible. Some of them are based on feminist philosophy as well.
That is worrying, that you are going to dismiss some forms of abuse because you don’t consider them consistent with the Bible. Also, you are dismissive of feminist philosophy as a whole. Another red flag, especially considering the underlying message of feminism (even if it has been corrupted by some) is that men and women should be equal in social, political and economic spheres.
Here is an example of a model of domestic abuse, the 'Power and Control Wheel'
http://www.ncdsv.org/images/powercon...lnoshading.pdf
First of all, the language is a bit sexist in a way since it's about men abusing women. There are women who break stuff, threaten divorce and suicide, use the kids, threaten to take the kids, etc. as well. Btw, putting threatening suicide down as abusive behavior is a bit concerning because advocates who deal with suicide say to always take such threats seriously.
The language does seem exclusionary. Perhaps it is reactionary to when ‘he/him/his’ was used as a neutral term, perhaps it is because they often deal with more female abuse victims (which is problematic because it suggests men who are in abusive relationships are unrecognised/ don’t seem to report it). Either way, I agree that it should be changed so that we aren’t ignoring male victims.
Using suicide to force someone to stay with you is emotional abuse, and extreme emotional abuse at that. You should try to refer them to a suicide hotline or call for help, but don’t stay with someone who is manipulating you.
Some of these behaviors are abusive or just plain messed up-- abusing pets to intimidate someone. One section is 'male privledge'. The words ooze with radical feminist indoctrination.
The section should have been named ‘male chauvinist/ man who believes in male superiority’.
Treating a wife like a servant, yeah, sure, that's a problem. But some of the things in that section along with 'Economic abuse' aren't necessarily abusive behaviors.
I’m not so sure you know what economic abuse is.
Wikipedia:
Economic abuse in a domestic situation may involve:
- preventing a spouse from resource acquisition, such as restricting their ability to find employment, maintain or advance their careers, and acquire assets
- preventing the victim from obtaining education
- spend victim's money without his or her consent and creating debt, or completely spend victim's savings to limit available resources
- exploiting economic resources of the victim
I hope that you would consider these things serious problems.
One hundred years ago, lots of women probably had to ask for money. In a lot of cultures, the man controls the purse. In families like the Duggars, which are really traditional, the man might give his wife an allowance. She might have to ask him to get money. (I don't know how the Duggars divide their money).
Cultural norms hundred years ago should not affect our thoughts on abuse now. It wasn’t that long ago that marital rape wasn’t recognised as a crime.
We have to deal with the current situation. Being financially dependent on your spouse does not mean they are abusive. However, if they are engaging in the behaviours I listed earlier they certainly are abusive.
Plenty of Christians believe that the wife is supposed to submit to the husband and that the husband is the head of the wife, since the Bible teaches this.
It’s frightening this mind-set still exists.
But I'm sure there were plenty of households in the US 100 years ago that weren't abusive. Traditional conservative Christians aren't all abusive. Marriages in cultures where men control the money. A man isn't abusive for acting like the head of the wife, the leader in the home, etc. If he starts calling her bad names, putting her down, demeaning her, or of course hitting her, then that gets into the area of abuse.
Acting superior to one’s spouse in the first place seems to allow for abusive behaviours. Two people should come into a relationship as equals with open and encouraged communication. If one person cannot do those things, the relationship should end.
Some of these models call using 'male logic', an abusive behavior. I've even seen 'quoting scripture' about wives submitting to husbands listed as abusive behavior. Some of the domestic violence centers are run by Feminists, and it can show up in their literature. Also, some of the models aren't really that scientific. An abusive man gets worse and worse and kills his wife, and that man's profile is used to extrapolate how abuse occurs in general.
No idea what ‘male logic’ means, but again it could be something that was inappropriately named again.
Repeatedly trying to enforce demeaning sexist ideas is abusive. Submission is something that can be asked for (by the person doing the submitting) as in a consensual D/s relationship, but it should never be forced upon a person. Many people are not naturally submissive, and to try to force this upon them contradicts their free will.
I don’t think the models are based on one man. They are likely patterns that are seen in abusive relationships as reported by victims; most victims will experience many different abusive behaviours while in their relationship. Perhaps it doesn’t always get worse, but is it worth the risk? What level of abuse is acceptable to you? At what point are we telling the person to get out of the relationship; when abusive behaviours are first experienced, or when the person’s mental health has deteriorated and/or their body is covered in bruises?
I've also seen literature and heard arguments that once a man is abusive, he is always abusive. And there is the slippery slope reasoning that if he's verbally abusive, it will eventually turn violent. That sort of thinking could scare a bride whose having some arguments and marital problems where they are both having trouble getting along. He, wrongly and sinfully, starts calling her names. Then she's told there is no hope. He'll get worse and worse until he kills her and she'd better leave him.
Again, risk prevention. Some people believe they can change abusers if they submit a little more, if they pray a little harder, if they work a little harder. They believe in change to an absurd degree, and it is hurting them.
I’m not saying abusers can’t change. But the victim being safe would be my priority before trying to change the abuser.
Verbal abuse is more worrying when it is a continuous behaviour that the abuser shows no remorse for; if he/she threatens, shouts, makes demeaning comments etc. repeatedly. It is not always just a worry that the abuse will become physical, either, but that this will be damaging to the mental health of the victim.
Also, the idea that people can't ever change is contrary to the teachings of the Gospel.
Give people a chance to change. But let them do it at a distance from the person that they’re hurting.