Violence over the Women in the Family

Lejla Mušić

Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Sociology, University in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

*Correspondence to: Dr. Lejla Mušić, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Sociology, University in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Copyright © 2018 Dr. Lejla Mušić. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Violence over the Women and Children globally, is rising every year. The physical violence influences the sexual violence, involving the economical violence and psycological violence, forming the circulus vitiosus of domestic violence. Domestic violence reports, inside the sociological theory(Giddens) state that almost every women and child, globally, has been violeted in family at least one time, during their life course. Therefore, the question of Women’s and Childern’s health, represent one of the most important themes, globally and internationally. In this editorial, I will focus onto the Violence over the Women in Eastern Europe, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the cases of domestic violence, partners use childern as a form of emotional abuse, intimidation, with coercion and threaths, therefore making the process of the separation, difficult for the Women that are violeted in family.

Source: The Wheel of Power and Control
This information is from the Duluth, Minnesota Domestic Violence Program

Definition of Family and Typology of Family, and Violence
For the starting point of my research, I will use the findings of famous researcher Vera Erlich in her Study on transformation of family, which she wrote in early seventies by doing questionnaire research on family in transition in 300 villages on territory of Balkans. There are many different definition of family. Some theoreticians define family as cell of society, societal microcosms, society of people, shelter, «story on success», anthropological universality, special function or family in singular. ¹Famous theoretician in field of sociology of family, Anđelka Milić, criticizes already mentioned definitions of family as inadequate or one-dimensional. Definition of family as cell of society is related to organist tradition, where family represents starting atom from which the complicated societal organization will be created. This definition is non adequate because society is consisted of relations between individuals and groups. Family is not microcosms, society in small, because it is not self-dependent. ²Exploring the family as social union is related to standing that family is the oldest form of union so it is different than modern societal unions. As specialized societal function, family should have satisfied only one aspect of human needs, and as a place for comfort and shelter it should be a way out of hard and unacceptable life reality. Family is watched in singular, even though according to many views any form, even family is not in singular. In family as a story of success, family is represented as a source of happiness for individual, by which the adequate critique of family is not possible, because not every family is a happy one. On the same way the standing about family as anthropological universality is explained because family is fundamental attribute of human being. ⁴On the basis of analyses of mentioned statements about family, I conclude it is necessary to leave essentialist approach in explanation of the term family and understand that not every family is ideal place which gives shelter nor is it a story of success. Dark numbers of violence in family, as well as statistical data, show that violence in family is part of reality of contemporary society. Statements on family in contemporary society question meaning of family and its traditional structure and function. Feminist movement influenced change of attitude towards family and brought to reformulation of understandings on modern family. Michael Haralambos⁵ says:

[W]omen give birth to children, women are mothers and wives; women cook, saw and wash: they take care of men and listen men’s authority; they are excluded out of high status occupations and power positions. It seems that basic division of labor is based on gender.

Feministic movement come out with fundamental need for change for egalitarian position of women in family, revaluation of position of women in family and it’s better division between sexes.⁶

In order to think on questions of family, it is necessary to define meaning and sense of family in frames of this work. Family went through meaningful changes in its historical development. The first mentioned type of family was widened family which consisted of several generations of closest relatives and it was overcome by the age of industrialization, even though it still exists in rural areas. In industrial society the nuclear family is formed. Nuclear family is consisted of parents and children, and it is mark of modern area. Under the influence of urbanization and industrialization, the wider modified family is formed. This type of family is consisted of several nuclear families which are connected with consanguinity relations. It is considered that this type of family is commonest, because urbanization and modernization makes it possible even for distant relatives to make visits to each other⁷. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the most common is modified widened family, even though all three types of families exist. Widened family as traditional form of family mostly exists in rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while nuclear and specially modified widened family exist in urban area of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Historical development of Bosnian and Herzegovinian family typology can be seen in already mentioned research of Vera Erlich as well as in the work of Alija Silajdžić Growing tendencies of our family with special attention toward the divorce praxis.

Work of Erlich Family in transition, which incorporated study of three hundred villages of former Yugoslavia (1964), is according to Vesna Miletić «document on misogynic tradition» on the territory of Balkans⁸. This research is of great importance for my paper because it also involved territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Authoress emphases that she was inspired by the Bosnian students who thought that Economical and social position of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina is completely hard, so her study will help emancipation of women. ⁹In research published in year 1964, on Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is said that it is area which has regional style involving Slovenian inheritance, oriental and Austrian style. Christian and Muslim families are patriarchal in its form¹⁰.

Erlich starts her investigation with analyses of position of father, patriarch, as well as patriarchal system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In consideration of patriarchal system, as well as position of women in patriarchal system, authoress concludes that change of patriarchal system leads toward egalitarian and individual position of women with men, but at the same time her individualism could lead toward the violence and torture¹¹. Phase in reformulation from patriarchal family to egalitarian form are so hard for women that all advantages seam almost unnoticeable. ¹²Patriarchal system and patriarchal family was very strong in Bosnia and Herzegovina in time of mentioned research. However, I want to question if this system is changed today in XXI century, or the period of transition brought to comeback of old forms.

Alija Silajdžić, in his work entitled Growing tendencies of our family with special overview toward the divorce praxis (1973)¹³, tries to analyze the divorce rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the reasons which lead to divorce, which involve violence in family as well.

Author on the basis of analyses of scripts on divorce of marriage comes to the conclusion that husbands are acting very roughly towards their women. Women as well very often hardly bear what they have to bear, in physical and psychological sense, and they are exposed to violence from husband as well as from his family. Some of the examples that he mentions are that one woman said that the violence in family of her husband is justified by tradition because his mother was beaten by his father, and that will be the case with his son as well. Author thinks that during the socialist system, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, tendencies of lowering violence in family was present as well as making the position of women better. From the data that were mentioned in his researches, it could be concluded that patriarchal tradition was present in past, and during the socialism emancipation of women happened.

Different perspective toward the socialist perspective was offered by feminist movements in former Yugoslavia, who tried to show hypocrisies consisted in promise that gender equality will be accomplished after the control of workers is achieved. ¹⁷Meanwhile, even though post socialist transition on the area of former Yugoslavia did not bring to emancipation and equal position of women in society, experience of post social transition was identified by the authoress as trauma which was influenced by retraditionalisation, then by the ideology of neo-liberalism because it’s gender neutrality and capitalism¹⁸. Communistic regime in process of transition is usually changed with ethnocentrism and nationalism. ¹⁹Ethnocentrism and nationalism together with all present repatriarchalisation of society put women in the most vulnerable category of society, giving her exclusively the role of mother, who gives sons to her homeland. Ler Sofronić emphasizes that under the influence of the mentioned factors, women become influenced by different forms of violence: «Women become marginalized, deprivated and mostly exposed to violence through the speech of hate and through the physical violence». ²⁰It could be concluded that in countries of transition position of women is totally diminished which could be seen in intensification of violence against women.

Recent research which mentioned the position of women in family in Bosnia and Herzegovina is work of eminent feminist theologian Zilka Šiljak-Spahić, Women, religion and politics. Authoress was interested in analyses the influences of inheritance of Judaism, Islam and Christianity on affirmation of women in politics and showed that strong retraditionalism, where in families it’s still considered that role of women is related exclusively to family, is still present in contemporary Bosnian society²¹.

From already mentioned arguments, it could be seen, that process of development of Bosnian and Herzegovina family went from sixties and research of Vera Erlich, when strong patriarchal system exist, through the pseudo-emancipation of women in communism of eighties until repatriarchalisation in transitional period in Bosnia and Herzegovina of contemporary era. Emancipation of women in eighties was pseudo, but there was strong feminine movement which detected and clearly showed existence of inequality of genders. Ler Sofronić thinks that there is not enough critical consciousness in contemporary Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would show the impediments of transition for development of women’s position and make egalitarian position of women in society, but there is strong women movement which detected and clearly shows inequality of genders. Family violence represents one of the many impediments for the emancipation of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the next part of this paper period of transition will be connected with repatriarchalisation of Bosnian and Herzegovinian society which will then be related with violence in family.

Transition, Retraditionalisation and Violence in Family
What does transition represent for some society or for the basic values of some society? How does period of transition influence economy and position of men in society and how could this be related to family violence against women are some of the questions which I will concern in this chapter.

The main thesis is that period of transition, which for the consequence has hard Economical position and unemployment brings to myths on justification of violence against women which influences higher rates of violence against women. Transmission historically, myths got different «contemporary» versions in riddles, puzzles and anecdotes which are deeply misogynic in its structure and which support violence against women. In Bosnia and Herzegovina reinforcement of ethno politics is also influencing the retraditionalisation. It formed the politics which is under the influence of the religion, so it is related to only one ethnical group which «existing ethnical reality considers as authentic»²². Mujkić²³ describes institutions of «Bosnian and Herzegovina ethno polis» as discriminative and repressive. This ethno political situation emphasizes protection of collective freedoms against those individual, which is specially seen on position of women in those society.

How do religion and politics interfere in public sphere, at the same time the relation towards women is changed and their role is rendered to reproduction of nation. On connection of gender and nation and the way in which the body of women is used as instrument for the nation reproduction, was spoken by many authors such as Balibar, Chatterjea, Cvitković, but the work of Nira Yuval Davis is of the special importance. The way in which the authoress connects gender and the nation is shown in the words that pressure on women to have or not to have children is done because they are members of nation not an individual. Women are losing the right to have their own choice and capability of understanding. In the fundament of nationalistic movement lies need for dominion over the women as ones who reproduce the nation or as metaphorically spoken by Yuval Davis «the ones who carry burden of representation»²⁴ of specific ethnical community. In collective sense women are related with children, so therefore they are future of that ethnical community²⁵. How on the basis of religious ethno politics, women must bring the burden of tradition and representation? Reinforcement of ethno politics leads toward the instrumentalisation of women. Bosnian and Herzegovinian society, faced with consequences of late war and period of transition from the socialism, at the same time is represented with reinforcement of ethno politics. With that the influence of religion on political life, where religion is understood on traditional, conditionally said patriarchal way, slowing down and making impossible complete emancipation of women leads to retraditionalisation of society. Retraditionalisation is not come back to tradition but it is shown as accommodation of tradition to new contest. Famous Bosnian and Herzegovinian feministic theological Zilka Spahić-Šiljak²⁶ in her research concluded that even the most educated believers of all confessions in Bosnia and Herzegovina have traditional understanding of position of women, and reason for those statements she sees in retraditionalisation which was formed during and after the war, were the come back to traditional gender roles is formed. Bosnia and Herzegovina has, under the influence of different factors of leading ethno politics and hard socioEconomical situation under the transitional period, become a country in which the growing number of family violence has been noticed. If we want to define the term transition, it is necessary to start with the definition of transition in Economical sense in order to come to the definition of the way in which transition influences different aspects of life, and also a family. Transition is considered as a process of transformation the not market-oriented economy into the ones who are of that kind. In that context it is important to emphasize that the transition, despite the relation with Economicalal aspect of life, carries within question concerning the law, economy, society as well as the politics²⁷. Interest for transition is found after the diminishing or brake of bureaucracy view on ownership, political life and management in countries of East Europe, as well as in countries of Middle Europe. The main attribute of transition is tendency to reorganize economy and society which is less developed in order to justify it to high technological and other inventions which are present in the developed countries of Europe²⁸ (Knežević, Čomić i Šator, 2004: 26). Period of transition lasts for long period of time and for its goal has Economical stabilization of country, privatization, liberalizations and change of economy in developing countries. All of these changes affect the society in which they are made, as well as the family. Transitional process is change from so called pre-modernity toward post modernity, which means leaving the past in order to integrate into the European society. ²⁹Many authoresses/authors speak of process of transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina in contest of cooperation with after the war process and period of going from one Economical system into the other. One of the most interesting data is the fact that rate of unemployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina comes to even 44%, and unemployment is one of the key facts by which the poorness is measured³⁰. Some of the authors, such as Stojanov, think that mentioned process is controversial, because it is unreal that countries accomplish step forward over the night related to Economical growth, employment, and social dimension, role of the state, putting forward the small and big firms. ³¹Great importance for the theoreticians of the transition process is given for the period of time in which transition should happen, and which is valued to much shorter period. Stojanov³² thinks that we need at least ten to fifteen years in order for process of transition to end. This statement is extremely important for the theme that I am concerned with, higher rates of violence in family of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the time of transition. Economical instability influences repatriarchalisation and retraditionalisation of Bosnian and Herzegovinian society, which influences the growing numbers of violence in family. Transition influenced disappearance of middle society level, thinks Cvitković³³, so only poor and rich stayed as two separated stratums of society. Poor are coping for the existence, and rich are satisfied with the state in society. By the diminishing of the middle stratum, the foundation of more just society is enabled. ³⁴The other problem related to transition, is in the fact that women are Economically dependent on violator and they cannot leave him because unstable situation in the state does not give them the chance to find the source of existence. Problems that exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina are shown in impossibility to adjust the state system to political, Economical and societal changes in order for state to be changed according to the demands of the new era. ³⁵In order to understand how the process of transition could be connected with the growing number of gender based violence in Bosnian and Herzegovinian family, it is necessary to explain how the process of transition influences the Bosnian and Herzegovinian society. In order to find the answer, it is necessary to analyze the goals of transition process, as well as the changes which are connected to the process. Goals of transitional process are in relation to certain transition changes. These transitional changes are connected with the modernization of technology. This transitional change incorporates modernization of technology, valuable and institutional system, which give the chance of entering the European and world organization, but there is also permanent dependence of countries in transition on modernization of developed countries³⁶. For my thesis the way in which transitional changes are happening is important, because it influences all segments of society and especially family. Change in system of values in society is evident in change of socialist system, which means change from „egalitarian-collectivistic“into the „liberalindividualistic system of values“³⁷. In socialist system ownership was collective; employment was safer than it is in developed capitalistic countries. Transition is the process of transmission from social and valuable system into the other which brings uncertainty influencing the sphere of family. In the process of transition and globalization, the change of society which influences the social differentiation and formation of social elite is happened³⁸. Change of one system into the other, socialism into the capitalism, is seen as intensive enrich of one part of society, as well as the intensive impoverishment of other part of society. Transition is metaphorically explained as Pandora’s Box which opening has the consequences that are hard to predict and control. ³⁹Unpredictability of the transition process is mirrored in diminishment of industrial potential, higher rates of unemployment, and inflation. ⁴⁰These arguments speak of the burden of transition for the society. For the further process of elaboration, it is necessary to connect the process of transition with the status of Bosnian women in society. I believe that transition influences subordination of women as well as their vulnerability and their exposure to violence and dependence on violent husband because of Economical crises and unemployment. Relation between transition and higher rate of family violence against women is also detected by Marina Blagojević in her work on Misogyny: invisible causes, painful consequences, so she says that „misogyny in the post-communistic world represents one of the important aspects that effect retraditionalisation, but it is also some sort of nostalgia for patriarchal order which is especially evident in chaos of transition“⁴¹. In analyses of star pilot examination, under the title Socio-Economical status of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, written by Bakšić-Muftić, Gradaščević-Sijerčić, Ler-Sofronić and Fetahagić⁴², is emphasized that in the period of transition, violence against women is named in public and becomes much more visible. Authoresses emphasizes that higher rates of violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina are connected with after war conditions in which violence against women is widened. 43In support of this thesis the Study on violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, could be also used. Transmission from social to private had great influence on gender based violence, because those differences were raised in all parts of life⁴⁴. This statement was justified by statistical data according to which the percentage of unemployed women, according to UNDP report for year 2004, is 46% in all Bosnia and Herzegovina. ⁴⁵In already mentioned study on violence in BH society it is acknowledged that period of transition influences the change of status of men and women. In Study on violence in Bosnian and Herzegovinian family, it is said that period of transition influences changes of status of men and women, and leads to retraditionalisation of gender roles. Men go through the crisis of identity; they cannot respond to demanding of masculinity as gender role so they find the way out in violence against women. ⁴⁶Some of the women got degrees and jobs in the period of socialism, and period of transition meant losing of this valuable position to them, so they become dependent on their husband. In this context, it is important to mention the statement of Mirjana Dokmanović, who says that inhabitants understand transition as rise of life expanses, loss of unpaid or less paid health insurance, rise of general uncertainty in Economical, political, social and personal life, rise of corruption and unemployment⁴⁷ (Dokmanović, 2005). As a valuable problem authoress mentions feminization of poverty which is formed as consequence of transition in process of transformation of political, Economical, and social sphere of life. The fundamental thesis of her article on Globalization, Economical and social rights of women is that women are more influenced by risk of improvements. ⁴⁸As women represent, by the definition of Susan Moler Okin, vulnerable category of society, transitional changes have great effect on women. Under the process of transition, the process of globalization is happening as well, as if it is impossible to speak on globalization without speaking on globalization. According to all mentioned arguments, I conclude that transition effects the changes in society as whole, as well as on women as the most vulnerable category of society. The term gender regime refers to relatively defined and structural relation between women and man, womanhood and manhood, in institutional and no institutional surroundings. ⁴⁹If we could analyze the way in which period of transition effects the position of women or the higher rates of violence against women, it is necessary to analyze gender regime or changes of gender regimes in countries that are part of countries in transition. Period of transition effects violence against women, and violence is happening on different levels from Economical, physical, psychological, verbal violence to the combination of different sorts of violence. Women are exposed to combination of violence in the period of transition, and Economical dependence, inadequate education or impossibility of education effects their discrimination. This position holds Marina Blagojevic as well and according to her similarity of gender regimes in countries of transition is mirrored in higher rates of violence against women, uncertainty and sudden diminishments of Economical power and independence of women⁵⁰.

This effects undermining the importance of respect of women as a group, as well as the diminishment of them form the institutional politics, retraditionalisation and repatriarhalisation, as well as the reinforcement of national identities followed by instrumentalisation of women. It is wrong to understand repatriarchalisation and retraditionalisation exclusively as coming back toward the old values. Their adequate definition is:

„Retraditionalisation is rather adjustment tradition toward the new contexts, and then it is the coming back to traditionalism. Similarly, to it, the repatriarchalisation represent affirmation of masculine values, and masculinity as value per se on discursive level, accommodating it to the new post-socialistic and postmodern contexts “ ⁵¹.

The basic hypothesis of this work is that the process of transition and higher rates of violence against women are interdependent. Process of transition effects higher rates of violence against women through their marginalization and exclusion out of institutional politics, as well as diminishing their Economical power. Transition effects the national identity reinforcement which leads to instrumentalisation of women, retraditionalisation and repatriarchalisation, which leads toward the higher rates of violence against women. Bosnian and Herzegovinian society is faced with consequences of the late war, in which the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina is very heavily destroyed and rate of unemployment is high. Transition affects diminishing the power of women as group, and leads toward their marginalization and instrumentalisation. Repatriarchalisation is visible in constant affirmation of masculine values. Mentioned statements are confirmed by the authoress Sanja Ćopić in her article Violence against women in the countries of former Yugoslavia⁵². She says that violence against of women represents: „the most serious but the most hidden form of victimization of women through the exposure of power under the victim which lead toward the losing of fate and security “. Great importance in the work of mentioned authoress is dedicated to the fact that Bosnian and Herzegovinian society is faced with the postwar situation, as well as with the Economical crisis which came out as consequence of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Men in the war were in the battle, and women took over their traditional roles, but the role of men in the house as well. They worried on every aspect of family life⁵³. After the end of war and coming back of men into the family crises of identity of men happens, if they see that women is capable to take care of all aspects of family life. Men becomes "frustrated", which could lead to the conflict in family and higher rates of violence in post-war situation, because man sees the violence as the only way to take back his role of head of the family. ⁵⁴The very important factor that could lead to violence in family is war trauma. Men could not carry with the psychological problems which war trauma carries within it. Men cannot hold on psychological problems that trauma causes, so they see brake out in violence against women⁵⁵.

Ćopić⁵⁶ in her article tried to give the results of investigations that she had done in different countries of Balkans. For this work, the important investigation is done on the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because it supports the basic thesis of this work. Ćopić⁵⁷ emphasizes:

„Social context of countries that are in the period of transition as well as in the postwar period are related with the strong influence of patriarchy and traditional gender roles, and they represent good ground for development of different forms of violence against women, specially violence against women in family “.

In support of the basic thesis of this work - that violence in Bosnian and Herzegovinian family is stronger under the influence of the transition- says the standpoint of authoress Vesna Nikolić-Ristanović in work Postcomunism: life of women in transition, where she states that the period of transition effects the transition in life’s of men and women, through the retraditionalisation of gender roles, and social change in postcommunistic influenced by postwar situation, negatively effects on vulnerability of women, especially in the area of family ⁵⁸. Period of nineties on the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Balkan in general, is shown by destroy of country and foundation of new independent countries. Foundation of new and independent countries and disintegration of country influenced the formation of ethnical problems, political disagreement and change of ethnical identities, which is at the same time followed by strong Economical crises. ⁵⁹An Economical crisis leads to unemployment and instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to impoverishment. Consequences of Economical crisis are changes in social and Economical life of citizens, by which the social stress is intensified and accumulated, and therefore reopened in the sphere of the family⁶⁰ . Mentioned changes influence gender roles in society, so it leads to destabilization and disorganization of family relation⁶¹. Men who finds himself in the situation that he does not fulfill traditional role of bread winner, acts in a way that he tries to take control in his house using the violence as traditional symbol of masculinity. ⁶²Mentioned thesis support overall idea that period of transition is related to higher rates of violence against women.

For the support of mentioned thesis, it is necessary to mention statistical data found in investigation of Sanja Ćopić on influence of transition on higher rates of violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was published in year 1998, and it involved 542 women, out of which 42,6% of them experienced the violence in family. Violence in family is defined as violence against women from their partners. According to Economical status, 26% women is employed. In comparison to other countries of Balkans, the most unemployment is marked in Bosnia and Herzegovina⁶³ (Ćopić, 2004: 51). It is important to mention that investigation that is related to Bosnia and Herzegovina, involved only Zenica, which gives us insight in percentage of violence in one part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If we look the results of mentioned research, in case of the mentioned example, 22% of women were exposed to physical violence. 77% of them experienced the violence several times, 24% of women said that they are victims of long term violence in family. ⁶⁴Jelena Radulović⁶⁵ in her work Violence in family says that investigation showed that violence in family is widely spread in countries of transition, as well that social and Economical uncertainty as attributes of mentioned period, lead toward the aggressive and violent attitude of men in family. This data connects transitional period as period of Economical crisis with higher rates of violence. Women stay in relationships with violent man, because they usually do not have safe and sure job, so the Economical crisis deepens already hard position. In this I can see circles vicious which transition, postwar period and Economical crisis forms in life of women exposed to gender based violence in family, and women stay in relationship with violent man. This supports already mentioned research in the data that 77% of women was exposed to violence more than once, but they still stayed in that kind of relationships. Ćopić⁶⁶ gives the statement of authoress Nikolić-Ristanović, who support the thesis that I support in my work on relation between transition and violence, because she shows connection between the Economical crisis and destabilization on one side and violence against women on the other side. Authoress thinks that connection between Economical crisis and violence has two important consequences. The first one is vulnerability of some parts of society, especially women, and second consequence is mirrored in the fact that women could not leave violent relationship because they are not Economicalally independent⁶⁷. This thesis is also supported by the author Richard Gelles who says that bad social-Economical status as well as social stress is one of factors which investigators mentioned in connection with violence⁶⁸. In this text which is connected to question why women stay in violent relationship, Gelles⁶⁹ concludes that less resources women possess she is more prisoner of the marriage and suffers more from the hand of her husband, by which the thesis on higher rates of violence because of Economical dependence of women is supported as well. There is also study which was published in February 2000, and it was published in February 2000, and it involved women from three largest towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Banja Luka, Zenica and Sarajevo. The book in which the results were published was named Violence against womendetailed investigations (2000). Investigation was done by three non-governmental organizations: Women to women, Society of women Banja Luka, and Medica from Zenica. Research showed that the most of women experience violence against their husband, partners or ex. husbands. ⁷⁰In relation to transitional period, it is necessary to connect after-war period in Bosnia and Herzegovina which also affects the rates of violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Trauma and after-war Economical situation in the period of transition affected the higher rates of violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It can be concluded that transitional period affects the higher rates of violence in Bosnian and Herzegovina family. Influence of Economical crisis effects the position of women in society, special the ones that are unemployed and do not have stable source of income, because of what she cannot leave violent man, because she depends on them. Therefore, violence against women is intensified under the social transition and war, psychological factor such as war trauma, as well as the socialization which was always connected with traditional gender roles and psycho sociological factors which are understood as system of value and norms of men. ⁷¹For the goal of the investigation of this theoretical presupposition and hypothesis, it is necessary to look through all sorts of violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the myths and presuppositions that justified violence.

Statistical Data on Different Form of Violence and Myths in Family in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Domestic violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina represents the presence of different sorts of violence as well as myths and stereotypes which support the violence. Violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina is very present, and in support of that there are statistical data represented in Table 1. on number of reported cases that are related to violence in family only in Sarajevo Canton.

The number of cases that are reported on SOS red line for report of violence in Sarajevo Canton, shows high difference that exist in number of reported cases of violence against women in comparison to violence against men⁷². From the start of the work SOS telephone, (Jun 2004) until December 2007, total number of telephone calls reported on SOS line for victims of violence is 3595. Out of this sum, only 58 of them are connected with report of violence against men. In Study on violence in family in Bosnia and Herzegovina the statistical data on forms of violence in family and its presence definition of domestic violence does not involve only physical violence. There are different forms of violence in family and all of them are present in Bosnia and Herzegovina: physical, psychological, Economicalal and sexual violence. Foundation of local democracy, in period from 2000-2004, gave shelter for women the victims of violence in family 190 times⁷³. Physical violence is, according the mentioned investigation, whose focus was the group of women that were housed in Safe House, even in 84 or 47% cases. It is important to mention the study Violence against women ⁷⁴(2000: 23), in which the most present type of violence is combined type of violence, which is present in 33% cases. Mentioned data brought to conclusion that it is necessary to work on the prevention of this kind of violence and to give support to women victims of physical violence in family. According to already mentioned investigation which out of Study on violence against women, which for the focus had a group of

women housed in Safe house in period of year 2000-2004, the most of women said that they were exposed to psychological violence in family, actually 94 of them or 73%. ⁷⁵Women stated that the hardest to cope with is exactly psychological violence because it involves humiliation of their personality in front of the others as well as convincing them that they are ugly, stupid or incapable⁷⁶. Investigations on Violence against women⁷⁷ (2000: 23) had shown that psychological violence is present in even 43% of cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It is important to emphasize that violence is part of our reality; psychological violence brings permanent consequences for psychological and emotional health of women. Statistical data had shown that sexual violence is present in 52 cases or 63%. According the investigation published in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the title Violence against women, it is reported that sexual violence is present in 24% cases. Even if the sexual violence is present in less number then physical and psychological violence, it is considered that this form of violence is the most common but the least reported⁷⁸sup>. Study Women wisdom, violence in family and human instabilities, ⁷⁹mentions the research done by Center for women victims of war from Zagreb, according to which on one reported case of rape comes even twenty unreported. One out of seven raped women is raped in marriage and in 80% of cases rapist is familiar person. Even though this data is related to area of Croatia, research is important because it justifies the fact that sexual violence, as violence in general, is silenced and marginalized. In Bosnian and Herzegovinian society, as a society that is facing the period of transition third form of violence in family is present, that is the Economicalal violence as well. Statistical data according to study from 2005, show that this form of violence exists in 52 cases or 63% cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina. ⁸⁰It is considered that there are so called „light“ and „dark“ numbers of violence in family, because it is estimated that on every reported case comes at least ten unreported ones. ⁸¹If we take into the consideration mentioned analyses on effects of after war situation and transitional changes, it could be concluded that violence in family is in increase. According to the mentioned analyses on influences of after war situation and transitional changes, it could be concluded that violence in family is also in constant increase. Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina are exposed to combined set of violence. Psychological violence is identified as the hardest form of violence against women, because it is usually combined with different forms of violence, and specially effects psychological and spiritual identity of women. Violence against women in family is supported by myths, stereotypes and presuppositions that exist as a part of patriarchal Bosnian culture. Existence of different myths is analyzed in different studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Statistical data related to Bosnia and Herzegovina was published in Star pilot research Socio-Economical status of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina,, have shown that the growth of violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina is evident but there is not enough consciousness on wideness of problem because violence is considered to be marginal and private problem. The right on life without violence is fundamental human right. ⁸²According to that, violence become part of past, but it is not part of past but it is intensified under many other influences. According to Report in Shadow, on Implementation of CEDAW Convention and Women Human rights, it is said that traditional presumptions want to show that violence is the thing of family in which we should not interfere. ⁸³Violence has a long tradition on Balkans and according to many authors (Ćopić, Blagojević, Nikolić-Ristanović), under the influence of transition and after war period, comes to the retraditionalisation and repatriarchalisation of society and increase of violence in family.

„Good mother and wives no one beats“, is very present myth in Bosnian and Herzegovinian society as a result of patriarchal culture which founds it’s support in frame of research found in Report on Implementation of CEDAW Convention and Women Human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina where is emphasized that women is guilty for problems in family so she deserves the violence that happened to her⁸⁴. As I already mentioned, myth that the violent person is psychopath or that violence happens only under the influence of alcohol, is diminished by the data consisted in investigation on Violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina published in year 2000, because until than it is not mentioned and approved that great number of violent men is present between alcoholics and addicts, but between the persons that do not use drugs or alcohol. ⁸⁵I found many arguments against the myth that violence happens only in poor and uneducated family, as well as the research from year 2000, where it is reported that the highest percentage of women who were exposed to violence have finished high school (even 41%), faculty degree have 12%, and one of them is even doctor of science. ⁸⁶We can conclude that the highest number of reported cases is related to Economicalally low status families, but violence is present in educated and rich families as well. According to already mentioned CEDAW report, it is emphasized that there is no adequate support for women victims of violence in family, because there is in society dominant myth women has to stay in violent marriage because of children and responsibility toward family, because those responsibility should be on firsts place for her. ⁸⁷Family violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina is very wide spread and in general it is around 1000 calls during one year only in Sarajevo Canton, which shows that violence is very serious problem of Bosnian and Herzegovinian society. Comparative analyses have shown that the great number of cases related to family violence is enormous higher in comparison to number of cases connected to violence against men. This data overrules the myths that violence is thing of past.

Literatura

• Babić-Avdispahić, Jasminka. Etika, demokracija i građanstvo. Sarajevo: Svjetlost, 2005.
• Bakšić-Muftić, J. Ler-Sofronić, N. Gradaščević-Sijerčić, J. i Fetahagić, M. Socio-ekonomski status žene: analiza rezultata star pilot istraživanja. Sarajevo, Jež, 2003.
• Bašić, Meho. Ekonomija javnog sektora. Sarajevo, Ekonomski fakultet, 2004.
• Blagojević, Marina, Gender barometar BiH 2002. Laktaši, Gender Centar Vlade Federacije BiH, Gender Centar Vlade Republike Srpske, 2004.
• Blagojević, Marina, Mapiranje mizoginije u Srbiji. Beograd, Asocijacija za žensku inicijativu, 2003.
• Blagojević, Marina. Položaj žena u zemljama Balkana. Laktaši:Gender Centar Vlade RS i Gender centar Vlade FBIH, 2004.
• Blagojević, Marina. Žene u tranziciji, gubitnici/e, dobitnici/e. (predavanje na Rodnim studijama u Centru za Interdisciplinarne postdiplomske studije), Sarajevo, jun, 2007).
• Centar za ženske studije, istraživanja i komunikaciju, Ženska prava i društvena tranzicija u SRJ. Beograd: Prometej, 1997.
• Ćopić, Sanja, “Wife Abuse in the Countries of the Former Yugoslavia” Feminist Review. No. 76. 2004, 46-64.
• Cvitković, Ivan. Sociološki pogled na naciju i religiju. Sarajevo, Des, 2005.
• Dokmanović, Mirjana. „Žena i ekonomske promene 2000-2005”. Globalizacija.com, časopis za političku teoriju i istraživanja globalizacije, razvoja i rodnosti. Subotica: Ženski centar za demokratiju i ljudska prava, ,2005. on line: http://www.globalizacija.com/doc_sr/s0082tra.htm
• Dokmanović, Mirjana. „Globalizacija, ekonomska i socijalna prava žene”. Globalizacija.com, časopis za političku teoriju i istraživanja globalizacije, razvoja i rodnosti. Subotica: Ženski centar za demokratiju i ljudska prava, 2005. on line: http://www.globalizacija.com/doc_sr/s0011lju.htm
• Erlich, Vera. Porodica u transformaciji, Zagreb, naprijed, 1964.
• Gelles, Richard J. “Family Violence”. Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 11, 1985, 347-367.
• Gelles, Richard J. “Abused Wives: Why Do They Stay “. Journal of Marriage and the Family. Vol. 38, No. 4, 1976, 659-668.
• Gelles, Richard J. “Research on Domestic Violence in the 1990s: Making Distinctions”.Journal of Marriage and the Family.Vol. 42, No. 4, Decade Review. (Nov., 1980), 873-885.
• Gerald.C. Davidson and John, M. Neal. Psihologija abnormalnog doživljavanja i ponašanja. Zagreb, Slap, 2002.
• Hadžiahmetović, Azra. Ekonomija Europe, Sarajevo: Ekonomski fakultet, 2005.
• Johnson, Michael P. “Violence against Women”, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 57, No. 2. (May, 1995), 283-294.
• Knežević, Aleksandar, Čomić, Jasna, Šator, Smajo. Plava knjiga.Okolina u strategijama razvoja Bosne i Hercegovine, Sarajevo, Ceteor, 2004.
• Knjiga moje prijateljice. Banja Luka, Kancelarija za besplatnu pravnu pomoć i psihosocijalnu pomoć ženama Žena i pravo, 2005.
• Miletić, Vesna, “Dokument o mizoginoj tradiciji autorice V.Erlich”.ur: Blagojević, Mapiranje mizoginije u Srbiji: diskursi i prakse, tom 2. Beograd, Asocijacija za žensku incijativu, 2000.
• Milić, Anđelka, Sociologija porodice, Beograd, Čigoja, 2001.
• Mujkić, Asim. Mi, građani etnopolisa. Sarajevo, Šahinpašić, 2007.
• Nasilje nad ženama, detaljna istraživanja, Lotus Tuzla, Banja Luka, Zenica, Sarajevo, oktobar 1999 - februar 2000.
• Nikolić-Ristanović, Vesna. Porodično nasilje u Srbiji, Beograd,Viktimološko durštvo Srbije, 2002.
• Nikolić-Ristanović, Vesna. Editorial: “Post-Communism: Women’s Lives in Transition”, Feminist Review, No. 76, 2004, pp. 2-4.
• Nikolić-Ristanović,Vesna. Međunarodni standardi o nasilju u porodici i njihova primjena na Zapadnom Balkanu. Beograd, Prometej, 2006.
• Okolina u Bosni i Hercegovini i pristupanje Europskoj Uniji. Sarajevo,Centar za tehnološki i okolinski razvoj, 2000.
• Radulović, Jelena. Nasilje u porodici. Podgorica, NVO Sos telefon za žene i djecu žrtve nasilja, 2003.
• Sali Terzić, Sevima, Šehić, Diana, Idžaković, Fedra, Jamaković, Nižalna i Bakšić-Muftić, Jasna. Izveštaj u sjeni: o implementaciji CEDAW konvencije i ženskim ljudskim pravima u Bosni i Hercegovini. Sarajevo: Global Rights, Partners for Justice i NVO BiH, 2004.
• Savić, Nives. Nasilje nad ženom u obitelji, on-line: www.nasiljeuporodici.com
• Sbraga, T. and W. O’Donohue. “Sexual Harassment”. Annual Review of Sex
• Research 11, 2000. 258-287.
• Silajdžić, Alija. Razvojne tendencije naše porodice s posebnim osvrtom na brakorazvodnu praksu. Sarajevo, Svjetlost, 1973.
• Spahić- Šiljak, Zilka. Žene, religija i politika: analiza utjecaja interpretativnog religijskog naslijeđa judaima, kršćanstva, islama na angažman žene u javnom životu i politici. Sarajevo, IMIC, CIPS, TPO, Bookline, 2007.
• Stojanov, Dragoljub. Međunarodne finansije u globalnoj ekonomiji. Sarajevo, Ekonomski fakultet, 2000.
• Bakšić-Muftić Jasna i dr, Studija o nasilju u porodici u Bosni i Hercegovini. Banja Luka, Helsinški parlament građana Banja Luka, Lara Bijeljina, Žene ženama, Sarajevo, 2005.
• Susan Moler Okin. Justice, Gender, and Family. Princetone University Press: Basic Books, 1989.
• Vlaisavljević, Ugo. Etnopolitika i građanstvo. Mostar, Udruga građana dijalog, 2006.
• Zašto nisi odabrala boljeg. Banja Luka: Helsinški parlament građana, Udružene žene, 2006.
• Žene i muškarci u Federaciji BIH. Sarajevo, Gender centar FBiH, 2006.
• Ženska mudrost, nasilje nad ženama i ljudske nelagode. Sarajevo, Žene ženama, 2004.
• Yuval, Davis Nira, Rod i nacija. Zagreb, Ženska infoteka, 2004.

¹Milić, Anđelka, Sociology of family. Čigoja, Beograd, 2001, pp. 32-36.

²Ibid, p. 34.

³Ibid, p. 33.

⁴Ibid, pp. 32-36.

⁵Haralambos, Michael. Sociology , Beograd, 2003, p. 355.

⁶Kukić, Slavo. Sociolology, 2004, Sarajevo publishing, p. 253.

⁷Ibid, p. 236.

⁸Miletić, Vesna. Mapping the mysogyny in Serbia. Beograd, 2000, Asocijacija za žensku inicijativu , 195.

⁹Erlich, Vera. Yugoslovenian family and transformation. Zagreb, Naprijed, 1964, 11-13.

¹⁰Ibid, pp. 31-84.

¹¹Ibid, p. 242.

¹²Ibid, p. 242.

¹³Work is not translated into the English language, title of the original is Razvojne tendencije naše porodice s posebnim osvrtom na brakorazvodnu praksu

¹⁴Silajdžić, Alija. Growing tendencies of our family with special overview toward the divorce praxis. Sarajevo, 1973, p. 262.

¹⁵Ibid, p. 262.

¹⁶Ibid, p. 262.

¹⁷Ler Sofronić, Nada. The end of transitional paradigma and gender perspective. 2002, p. 27.

¹⁸Ibid, p. 20.

¹⁹Ibid, p. 24.

²⁰Ibid, pp. 24-25.

²¹Šiljak, Spahić, Zilka. Women, religion and politics. Sarajevo, IMIC, CIPS, TPO, Bookline, 2007, p. 268.

²²Vlaisavljević, Ugo. Etnopolitics and citizenship. Udruga građana dijalog, Mostar, 2006, p. 239.

²³Mujkić, Asim. We citizens of ethnopolis. Sarajevo, Šahinpašić, 2007, p. 104.

²⁴Yuval, Davis, Nira. Gender and nation. Ženska infoteka, Zagreb, 2004, p. 65.

²⁵Ibid, p. 65.

²⁶Spahić, Šiljak, Zilka. Women, religion and politics. IMIC, CIPS, TPO, Bookline, Sarajevo, 2007, p. 317.

²⁷Knežević, Aleksandar.Čomić, Jasna i Šator, Smajo. Blue Book. Environmant in Bosnia and Herzegovina and entering the European, Ceteor, Sarajevo, 2005, p. 26.

²⁸Ibid.

²⁹Ibid.

³⁰Hadžiahmetović, Azra. Economy of Europe. Faculty of Economy, Sarajevo, 2005, p. 220.

³¹Stojanov, Drgoljub. Internationale finance in global economy. Ekonomski fakultet, Sarajevo, 2000, p. 391.

³²Ibid, 398.

³³Cvitković, Ivan. Sociological aproach toward the religion. Des, Sarajevo, 2005, p. 21.

³⁴Ibid, p. 21.

³⁵Bašić, Meho.Economy of public sector. Faculty of Economy, Sarajevo, 2004, p. 177.

³⁶Knežević, Aleksandar.Čomić, Jasna i Šator, Smajo. Blue book. Environmant in Bosnia and Herzegovina and entering the European, Ceteor, Sarajevo, 2005, p. 26.

³⁷Ibid, p. 26.

³⁸Ibid, p. 27.

³⁹Vidi u zborniku Environmant in Bosnia and Herzegovina and entering the European Union, Centar za tehnološki i okolinski razvoj, Sarajevo, 2000, p. 22.

⁴⁰Šator, Smajo. U zborniku Environmant in Bosnia and Herzegovina and entering the European. Sarajevo Centar za tehnološki i okolinski razvoj, 2000, p. 23.

⁴¹Blagojević, Marina. Mapping of mysoginy in Serbia. Asocijacija za žensku inicijativu, 2000, p. 33.

⁴²Bakšić-Muftić, Gradaščević-Sijerčić, Ler-Sofronić i Fetahagić. Social-Economical analyses of status of women. 2003, p. 67.

⁴³Ibid, p. 68.

⁴⁴Ibid, p.31.

⁴⁵Ibid, p. 31.

⁴⁶Ibid, p. 32.

⁴⁷Dokmanović, Mirjana. „Globalisation, social and Economicalal rights of women”. Globalizacija.com, časopis za političku teoriju i istraživanja globalizacije, razvoja i rodnosti. Subotica: Ženski centar za demokratiju i ljudska prava, 2005. on line: http://www.globalizacija.com/doc_sr/s0011lju.htm

⁴⁸Dokmanović, Mirjana. „Women and Economical changes 2000-2005”. Globalizacija.com, časopis za političku teoriju i istraživanja globalizacije, razvoja i rodnosti. Subotica: Ženski centar za demokratiju i ljudska prava, ,2005. on line: http://www.globalizacija.com/doc_sr/s0082tra.htm, 3.

⁴⁹Blagojević, Marina. Women in transition, losers/winners. (Lecture held at Gender Studies at University of Sarajevo, Center for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies), Sarajevo, Jun, 2007), p. 6.

⁵⁰Ibid, p. 8.

⁵¹Blagojević, Marina, Gender barometar BiH 2002. Laktaši, Gender Centar Vlade Federacije BiH, Gender Centar Vlade Republike Srpske, 2004, p. 19.

⁵²Ćopić, Sanja. Wife Abuse in the Countries of the Former Yugoslavia. Feminist Review. No. 76. 2004, pp. 46-64.

⁵³Ibid, p. 61.

⁵⁴Ibid, p. 61.

⁵⁵Ibid, p. 61.

⁵⁶Ibid, p. 45.

⁵⁷Ibid, p. 48.

⁵⁸Nikolić-Ristanović, Vesna. Editorial. Post-Communism: Women’s Lives in Transition. Feminist Review, No. 76, 2004, pp. 2-4.

⁵⁹Ćopić, Sanja, Wife Abuse in the Countries of the Former Yugoslavia. Feminist Review. No. 76. 2004, pp. 46-64.

⁶⁰Ibid, p. 49.

⁶¹Ibid, p. 49.

⁶²Nikolić-Ristanović, Vesna. Family violence in Serbia. Beograd, Viktimološko durštvo Srbije, 2002, p. 108.

⁶³Ibid, p. 51.

⁶⁴Ibid, p. 53.

⁶⁵Radulović, Jelena. Violence in family. Podgorica, NVO Sos telefon za žene i djecu žrtve nasilja, 2003, p. 10.

⁶⁶Ćopić, Sanja, Wife Abuse in the Countries of the Former Yugoslavia. Feminist Review. No. 76. 2004, p. 56.

⁶⁷Ibid, p. 56.

⁶⁸Gelles, Richard J. Family Violence. Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 11, 1985, p. 358.

⁶⁹Gelles, Richard J. Abused Wives: Why Do They Stay. Journal of Marriage and the Family. Vol. 38, No. 4, 1976, p. 667.

⁷⁰Nasilje nad ženama, detaljna istraživanje. Lotus Tuzla, Banja Luka, Zenica, Sarajevo, oktobar 1999 -februar 2000, p. 17.

⁷¹Ćopić, Sanja. Wife Abuse in the Countries of the Former Yugoslavia.Feminist Review. No. 76. 2004, p. 62.

⁷²The investigation was published by the team of Safe house in year 2007 , in which I was involved during my Masters internship in Safe House at that time.

⁷³Bakšić-Muftić, Jasna i dr. Study on violence against women. Banja Luka-Sarajevo, Helsinški parlament građana Banja Luka, 2005, p. 28.

⁷⁴Violence against women. Lotus Tuzla, Banja Luka, Zenica, Sarajevo, oktobar 1999 – februar 2000, p. 23.

⁷⁵Bakšić-Muftić, Jasna i dr. Study on violence in family. Helsinški parlament građana Banja Luka, Lara Bijeljina, 2005, p. 23.

⁷⁶Ibid, p. 29.

⁷⁷Violence against women. Lotus Tuzla, Banja Luka, Zenica, Sarajevo, oktobar 1999 – februar 2000, p. 23.

⁷⁸Zvizdić Memnuna and others. Women wisdom, violence and human instabilities. Žene ženama, 2004, pp. 64-65.

⁷⁹Ibid, p. 66.

⁸⁰Bakšić-Muftić, Jasna. Study on violence against women. Banja Luka, Helsinški parlament građana Banja Luka, Lara Bijeljina, Žene ženama, Sarajevo, 2005, p. 28.

⁸¹Ibid, p. 29.

⁸²Bakšić-Muftić, J. Ler-Sofronić, N. Gradaščević-Sijerčić, J. i Fetahagić, M. Socio-Economicalal status of women: analysesof results star pilot investigations. Sarajevo: Jež, 2003, p. 68.

⁸³Sali Terzić, Sevima, Šehić, Diana, Idžaković, Fedra, Jamaković, Nižalna i Bakšić-Muftić, Jasna. Report on Implementation of CEDAW Convention and Women Human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo: Global Rights, Partners for Justice i NVO BiH, 2004, p. 27.

⁸⁴Ibid.

⁸⁵Violence against women, detail investigations, Lotus Tuzla, Banja Luka, Zenica, Sarajevo, oktobar 1999 -februar 2000, p. 14.

⁸⁶Ibid, p. 18.

⁸⁷Sali Terzić, Sevima, Šehić, Diana, Idžaković, Fedra, Jamaković, Nižalna i Bakšić-Muftić, Jasna. Izveštaj u sjeni: o implementaciji CEDAW konvencije i ženskim ljudskim pravima u Bosni i Hercegovini. Sarajevo: Global Rights, Partners for Justice i NVO BiH, 2004, p. 27.