1.5　Summary

1.5　Summary

In respect to 'who is included' in domestic violence,the definitions analysed reflect that perpetrators and victims know each other.Their relationship is usually very close.The British definitions mainly include a range of intimate relationships and family members,including consanguinity and non-consanguinity,marital (legal) and non-marital relationships,while the Chinese definitions centre mainly on family members:consanguinity,marital relationship and relatives.The difference between them is caused by different social systems and cultures reflected in law,conceptualisations and family structures.

With regard to 'how to define behaviours of domestic violence',the similarity between definitions reflects that such violent behaviours injure or impact on victims in their body and health.Moreover,these definitions also show commonly that there are various types of domestic violence,including physical,psychological or emotional,sexual,or financial abuse.Nevertheless,the different cultures and the different history of research on domestic violence influence different definitions of behaviours of such violence between the two countries.The British academics define them more broadly and in terms of processes,while the Chinese academics define them more specifically and in terms of results.

After reviewing the literature on definitions,I have found that issues of gender and power are clearly shown in the British definitions,while a more legally-oriented and judicial style is implicit in Chinese definitions.This is because China has only stipulated 'domestic violence should be prohibited in family' in 2001,a very short history.After examining the definitions of domestic violence used in the UK and China,I will now explore issues of how widespread,according to surveys carried out by British and Chinese academics,domestic violence is in both countries.This will be discussed in the next chapter.

【注释】

[1]Source:http://www.womensaid.org.uk/about/what_is_dv.htm[Accessed:September 6 2005]．

[2]From now on,all translation from Chinese into English will be by the author of this thesis.

[3]NPC is a short form and means National People's Congress in China．

[4]Work unit．

[5]Here this term means that one partner of a couple loves an outsider and has a sexual　relationship with her/ him.

[6]There are different Family laws in England &Wales,Scotland and Northern Ireland,but here these differences are not as striking as the differences when compared with China,and therefore the term 'British' is　appropriate.

[7]Source:Kuanming International Conference on Psychological Therapy in http://www.njxlbj.com/whyx108.htm．

[8]Chen Duxiu,professor in Beijing University;founder and leader of Communist Party of China．

[9]The three cardinal guides [sangang] mean 'ruler guides subject,father guides son,and husband guides wife'．

[10]The three obediences [sancong] (for a woman according to Confucian ethics) mean 'obedience to father before marriage,to husband after marriage,and to son after husband's death'．