The Fight Against Domestic Violence
Country Trinidad and Tobago is not unfamiliar to change.
In fact, the incredibly diverse culture that exists within the two islands is
what helped their society develop and adapt to new societal norms that
accompanied the influx of African slaves, as well as the Indian, Portuguese and
Chinese indentured. Not to mention, the early presence of Spanish colonialism
and French influence heavily impacted Trinidad and Tobago’s start towards their
first formal legal system. However, at
its foundation, Trinidad and Tobago was largely shaped by the movements of
immigration due to the countries’ high demand for willing laborers to tend to
their sugar, cotton and cocoa production. As a result, demographic ratios
staggered drastically as one’s race, class and especially gender became an
acceptable subject of discrimination. Areas
of inequality among men and women intensified and violence became the leading
method of dominance throughout the city.
Was it the cities history that justified the perpetuated violence to the
present day? Or could it be a learned behavior, one continuously taught through
their everyday life? Regardless, their constant struggle for recognition of
domestic violence leads us to examine their past and to also call into question
whether or not it will continue in the future.
Domestic violence is defined as “…any act committed within
the family by one of its members, which seriously impairs the life, body,
psychological well-being or liberty of another family member” (Domestic
Violence Unit). What could come as a
surprise to most are the many ways domestic abuse can be delivered. Obvious
ones including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, but acts of financial and
psychological abuse are just as prevalent. Domestic violence has a distinct
pattern of disruption in Trinidad and Tobago.
It is important to understand that domestic violence “is a significant
medical and social issue that has considerable impact on the health and welfare
of both adults and children” (West Indian Med).
To clarify, the West Indian Medical journal distinguished a link between
domestic violence and the society. Stating that although the violence tends to
be viewed as a family issue, to view it as a societal concern is more accurate.
Just like gender, domestic violence is a social construction; it is learned,
not genetic. The evidence supporting their claim comes from The World Health
Organization’s definition of health, that states to be ‘healthy’ is the
complete mental, physical and social well-being. This is not to say every man
born or home to Trinidad and Tobago is destined to be an abuser. However, certain factors definitely increase
the likelihood of domestic abuse. Dating
back to before slavery was abolished, the indentured were commonly victims of sexual
abuse from their owner. Imagine a young man arriving in a developing country
and continuously witnesses the beating of a young female from her boss,
sometimes in public. That would only
send one message, that beating females is condemned. Most often one’s social
class also contributed to the abuse, showing that women living in more rural
than urban communities were more likely to be targeted due to a possible lack
of credibility in the future. Why is
harming a spouse such an attraction for citizens in Trinidad and Tobago? Why is
it that they are one of the worlds leading nations for the annual number of
female murders?
After
significant research about their history, I aim to dissect the web of domestic
violence that has yet to be untangled.
The issue of domestic violence in
Trinidad and Tobago became a problem long before it was recognized as one. This can be attributed to many other events
in T&T. How about their economy? In the mid nineteen seventies the country
experienced an economic boom in oil, almost tripling their profits annually.
However, a year shy of a decade later the government spiraled into a recession
based on their heavy dependence to oil. By 1990, almost 20% of the population
fell below the poverty line (Lazarus-Black 392). Trinidadians were also feeling a loss of their
identity, and at the time nationalist movements encouraged pride in their West
Indian history (Lazarus-Black). It is possible that they associated their West
Indian history with the violence they learned. A few articles explore the
linkages between masculinity and violence against women; explaining how some
men feel it is their duty to discipline the wife (Bissessar 13). Some evidence
suggests that violence was often a symptom of competing patriarchies;
specifically pertaining to the arrival and settlement of the indentured
laborers, men felt it was their place to establish their place within the community, and of course was facilitated through
violence. In popular culture, musical term Calypso
is Trinidad’s famous musical outlet that also serves as an example of a learned/
socially accepted role. In this case men essentially starve for the female’s
attention, and the woman is expected to be a ‘passive receiver’ and willingly
subject themselves to victimization. It is interesting to me that the women
seem obligated to constantly put their men on a pedestal, as if these men are so
insecure they need to ‘role-play’ just to feel adequate (Dolly 62). In response
to some of the men’s vulgar lyrics, women often wrote about their personal
experiences involving violence or used the opportunity for some discrete comic
relief in their life. Click
Here to Watch Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan belt out "Stone Cold Dead
in the Market" # 3 Another
reason men deem appropriate for abuse is through the practice of their
religion, particularly where such doctrine is patriarchal in expression (Dolly
62). So, if we are not able to erase the history of violence, how can we
prevent it in the future? Mindie Lazarus Black expresses a similar thought, “If
the violence and powerlessness experienced from colonialism, through slavery
and indentured labor, are brought forward into today’s society in the battering
of women, then how can we address these issues and hold offenders responsible
and accountable (?)”(Lazarus-Black).
Some may wonder, if there is
evidence of domestic violence dating back to before the abolition of slavery in
1930, then why is it still an area of concern among citizens? Evidence suggests that typically the victims
of abuse are often in a situation where reporting their abuser may do more harm
than good. The wife is most likely
financially dependent to her spouse. She possibly has children to worry about,
afraid they could be victims of abuse as well if she were to leave. Her skill
level is probably minimal, so a job is out of the question. She is embarrassed
to turn to her friends; scared they would judge her and her family. Maybe she
could try the police, but if no charges are filed against the husband there is
nothing for them to do. Every option she sees, the man always seems to win. In
the off chance a case was accepted by the court, men would often talk of their
action as a mistake or accident, stating the wife was acting ‘crazy’ or
‘irrational’ and would frequently be let go of any charges. “The implicit
battle of power is weighted more heavily in the male’s favour and thus provides
a societally acceptable context for battering” (Dolly 64). The constant
struggle for a way out weighs heavier each day along with the same women who
have been enduring violence in their own home for years.
Prior to 1991, incidents of domestic
violence were mainly filed as criminal matters, specifically in regards to
assault and battery. Yet the recording of these events were highly infrequent
due to the police not taking it seriously, referring to these matters as
“husband and wife business” (Lazarus-Black 23).
In other words, there were no existing outlets for one’s troubles at
home. What happened at home, stayed at home. One key factor that sparked the
movement against domestic violence was the charge women were taking with their
education. Following the oil boom, people used their countries prosperity to
further their education and economic opportunities. Women also became heavily
involved in politics, eager to play their role. The government also took the
initiative and invested in various social and economic services and increased
their public sector tremendously. By
1887, over 50% of the full-time undergraduates and almost 42% of postgraduate
students at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad were women (Lazarus-Black
26). Women continued to gain support and recognition for their actions. In 1975
a group of housewives formed HATT, Housewives Association of Trinidad and Tobago
that focused their attention on food prices and other consumer items within
their community. Few years later, the concern for women and men’s equal pay was
revisited, calling for not only equal pay and work, but for the legalization of
abortion and an end to violence. It
began similar to a domino effect. People had to see others working for equality
until they felt the courage to try it themselves. Organizations such as, the
Coalition against Domestic Violence, the Rape Crisis Centre, Working Women, and
CAFRA (Caribbean Association for Feminist Research Action hit the ground
running in their efforts to eliminate domestic violence. They wrote to
newspapers, lawyers, held workshops and even aired their perspectives on the
television and radio (Merry 936). Surprisingly so, non-governmental
organizations also played a part, as they were the main financial supporters
towards these movements. They held hearings, attended private meetings to
expose flaws in government reports, and more. They acted as the big brother,
the behind the scenes contributor (Merry 936).
Here is a list of some of the NGO’s.
By
now, the act of eliminating domestic violence had gained global attention. Characterized as “a bill for social justice
and equal rights for men and women,” the Domestic Violence Act of 1991 was
officially passed.
As expected, opposition against the
demand for equality began immediately. Opponents voiced their concerns, stating
the bill criminalized what they called “husband and wife business”. Even two years later the bill was still up
for scrutiny as one prominent leader was quoted stating the act “ did not take
into consideration the attitude of the Trinidadian male and his culture
predisposition to property and women…”(Lazarus-Black 30). The audacity of one
man, nonetheless one that worked in the government and still managed to
discriminate even after it was deemed illegal.
The statute made the courts more readily available to victims of abuse.
Mindie Lazarus Black talks about the ‘regendering’ of the state. As she puts
it, it is the “disruptions of hegemony”. She discusses how law has historically
been molded based on masculine forms and language (Lazarus Black 22). These men have lived the majority of their
life able to wiggle through the cracks of the law. Now that the cycle of
hegemony is interrupted, they are scrambling to their feet wondering how it
perpetuated right in front of them. The
next area of concern is if these laws truly carry some weight. In the past,
many instances of delays and mistrials have
Here
is a chart of the recent conviction rates.
The
time and money also needed to facilitate the workshops and education on
domestic violence was also scarce.
Efforts made to combat dilemmas were implemented for that reason
exactly. States voluntarily subject themselves to periodic reports asserting their
compliance with women’s human rights, as well as allowing their surveillance
and global monitoring. It is evident that violence is not going to disappear
overnight, but it is also clear that efforts are being made to eliminate the
problem in the future.
The past hundred years of Trinidad
and Tobago’s history is not common knowledge. On the map they are nothing but
two little islands off the coast of Venezuela. For some, it could be the home
their family migrated too a century ago, or for others it could be home to the
life they were never able to escape. However, Trinidad and Tobago’s history is
one that has been shaped by indentureship, slavery and imperialism. A country that
was also forced into the mold of colonialism yet still set the first precedent for
the English speaking Caribbean with its Domestic Violence Act. Although their
past weighs heavily, recent evidence supports the claim that Trinidad and
Tobago are trying to put a stop to the continued cycle of domestic violence.
Bibliography:
1. 1. Nagassar,
R P, et al. "The Prevalence Of Domestic Violence Within Different
Socio-Economic Classes In Central Trinidad." The West Indian Medical
Journal 59.1 (2010): 20-25. MEDLINE with Full Text. Web. 22 Apr.
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2. 2. Sukhu, Raquel L. M. "Masculinity And Men’S
Violence Against Known Women In Trinidad—Whose Responsibility?." Men
& Masculinities 16.1 (2013): 71. Publisher Provided Full Text
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3. 3. Lazarus-Black, Mindie. "Law and the Pragmatics of
Inclusion: Governing Domestic Violence in Trinidad and Tobago." American
Ethnologist 2001: 388. JSTOR Journals. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.http://www.jstor.org.nuncio.cofc.edu/stable/3094974&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
4. Howe,
Darcus. "The Island Where Even Ministers Beat Up Their Wives." New
Statesman 128.4464 (1999): 22. Literary Reference Center. Web. 22
Apr. 2016.
5. 5. Domestic Violence
Unit. Domestic violence: What you need to know. Port-of-Spain, Trinidad:
Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs, 2000.
6. 6. Stone Cold Dead In The Market- http://www.avclub.com/article/the-hits-keep-coming-30-songs-inspired-by-domestic-57741
7. 7. Lazarus-Black,
Mindie. Everyday Harm: Domestic Violence, Court Rites, and Cultures of
Reconciliation. Urbana: U of Illinois, 2007. Print.
8. 8. Bissessar, Ann
Marie., and La Guerre John Gaffar. Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana: Race and
Politics in Two Plural Societies. Maryland: Lexington, 2013. Print.
9. 9. Dolly, Jennifer Holder. "Responses to Domestic
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and Tobago. Print.
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