Another conclusion that the 1993 Violence Against Women Survey was able to reveal was that sexual harassment is something or an aspect, which isn't considered unusual for many Canadian women, in today's society. This survey showed that approximately 87% of women in Canada had encountered and experienced one incident of sexual harassment that was significant enough to report to someone, whether it's someone close to them or to the police. This survey was also able to come to the conclusion that, a large number of the cases, the assaults and violence on the wives is described as being “repeated or, in some cases, ongoing episodes of abuse.” (Johnson, Sacco) With the help of the homicide archive, the Violence Against Women Survey was able to notice that the level of nonfatal violence and abuse against wives “was about four times higher in coresiding common law unions than is registered unions.” (Wilson, Johnson, Daly)
Another important survey is Statistics Canada's homicide archive. The homicide archive is a survey that may help society understand and explain the abuse and violence, but also the level of uxoricide in Canada. Uxoricide is the killing or the murdering of one's wife, generally by the husband.
One aspect of this survey that was brought up and found is that “jealous” and “possessive” are two words or terms that are often applied to “describe the mindset of men who have beaten or killed wives.” (Wilson, Johnson, Daly) In the article Lethal and Nonlethal Violence Against Wives, the authors explain and describe that the uxoricide illustrate or represent about 11.4% of all homicide victims in Canada, between the period of 1974 and 1992.
There is also the General Social Survey (GSS) on Victimization that may be taken inti consideration. In 2004, the GSS questioned and interviwed approximately 24,000 Canadian citizens, both men and women, about their encounters and experiences they had had with criminal victimization, mainly of abuse and violence. Based on the information and findings that was given by the Canadian interviewees, the rate of violence and abuse in Canada wasn't any higher in 2004 that it was five years earlier, in 1999, when the survey had begun and was first done.
This general survey has revealed and shown that the chances and differences of self-report of brutal victimization was highest in young people between the ages of 15 and 24, single individuals, those who frequently participate in activities during the evening and the individuals who live in urban areas.
When this survey was done for a second time, in 2004, the GSS was able to report that the rate of spousal violence hadn't changed since 1999 and was still at 7 per cent. With this finding, this survey explained that approximately 546,000 men and 653,000 women had experienced some form or type of violence and abuse at the hands of a present or previous spouse or common law partner. The data and statistics were able to show that “the nature and consequences of spousal violence were more severe for women than for men.” (Family Violence in Canada) With its findings, the General Social Survey on Victimization has also been able to reveal and present that the emotional abuse was found to be more widespread than the sexual or physical abuse and violence.
Some of the conclusions found from the several different studies may lead us to understand the intimate relationship abuse by examining two tenets or beliefs of attachment, in intimate relationships, between two partners. One of these beliefs is that this attachment will fulfill a fundamental need of survival. During the marriage, for instance, the two spouses depend on and help each other, to be able to provide for each other, both financially and emotionally speaking.
Though it is less common now that they are the sole provider, men are often the main financial provider and the female partner has relied and leaned on the male partner, which may be one of the reasons why the women don't leave their spouse or partner. This is also a way for the dominant men to keep their control over their spouse or partner.
The second of these tenets and beliefs is that the “individuals whose attachment needs have been frustrated may strike out violently to regain proximity to the perceived loss of an intimate partner.” (Henderson, Bartholomew, Trinke, Kwong) For the violent partner, whose partner or spouse has left, there is a need to recover their partner or spouse. For them, the spouse or partner, who is the victim of abuse and violence, has become and is a need, in the intimate relationship.
Abuse and violence in Canada is a serious and severe social problem and won't disappear overnight. With the help of the several studies that have been done, society can better understand and explain several different aspects and circumstances surrounding this issue. These studies can and may help us try and solve this problem as a society and individually in our community.
