K_PublicPrivate.docx - Strake CS and JD Private Sphere NC 1...

Strake CS and JD Private Sphere NC 1
Part One-Links
A. Although the affirmative sympathizes with the victim’s plight, in narrowing the debate to how
victims can overcome the oppression of intimate relationship violence they construct domestic
violence as a private problem, and ignore the social and cultural problems that lie at the root of
spousal aggression. Berns 1 : “ A n individual frame of responsibility focus[es] primarily on
the
victim. A prevalent question in these articles is
"Why
do
battered women remain in the abusive relationship? "
In
these articles, the victim may not always be blamed explicitly for the violence or for staying in the relationship. Indeed, many articles focus on the victim in a
sympathetic manner, such as by giving her credit for leaving the abusive relation- ship, changing her behavior, or seeking counseling. However,
the focus-
and thus the responsibility-remains on the victim
rather than the batterer. Explanations for why women stay in abusive
relationships often mention institutional and social barriers; however, these perspectives still place responsibility on the individual
rather than on
society or specific institutions . There is no advice on how society can change to help the
victim. Rather, the victim must overcome these obstacles.” [Specific AC Links to how victim
can overcome DV]
B. Describing the victimization of one human being by their intimate partner as “domestic
violence” entrenches the notion that intimate relationship violence is a private matter restricted to
the confines of the household or family unit. Holmes 2 explains: “ A central tenet of the
dominant Western feminist discourse about violence against women is that intimate
relationship violence is hidden through the construct of privacy of the domestic
spher e of the heterosexual home. The term ‘domestic violence’
(although not
universally applied) also
conveys the idea that intimate relationship violence occurs in private in the
home.” [Additional AC Links to definition of DV]
C. The affirmative strategy of pigeonholing the resolutional conflict to the actions of a discrete
and singular victim and a similarly atomic abuser engenders a discussion of domestic violence
devoid of social context or reference to the institutions and cultural practices that define and
reproduce that violence. [Specific AC Links to AC’s conception of ethical subject/victim]
Part Two-Impacts
1
Berns, Nancy. “My Problem and How I solved It”: Domestic Violence in Women’s Magazines.” 1999.
2
Holmes, Cindy. “Destabilizing homonormativity and the public/private dichotomy in North American lesbian domestic violence discourses.” 2009.

Strake CS and JD Private Sphere NC 2
A. The affirmative’s portrayal of domestic violence as a private matter shrouds the real problem
at stake. An authentic reckoning with the ethical conflict over victims who kill must start with
the recognition that domestic violence is rooted in the deep-structures of heteronormative male
dominance that characterize many social norms. Randall