THE 2 FACETS OF FEMALE VIOLENCE - THE PUBLIC AND THE DOMESTIC DOMAINS

Violent behavior of women varies significantly in the public and priva te domains. Criminal statistics indicate a relatively low proportion o f women among violent offenders in the public domain, while in the dom estic and/or private domain statistics reflect almost no gender differ ence in violent behavior. The following paper proposes a dynamic model which draws upon psychological and sociological variables and suggest s that the clue for understanding the paradoxical phenomenon lies in t he relative importance the domestic domain plays in the woman's value structure. Among the variables considered were: social learning patter ns regarding violent behavior; perception of danger; and the ways in w hich women express their frustration and/or anger.