Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1031063
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 SEPTEMBER 2018 INTERVIEW Malta recently awoke to another case of a women murdered allegedly by her partner: the third case of femicide this year, and the 28th to occur in Malta since 1978. The statistics also seem to indicate a sharp increase in femicides over time. Nineteen of those murders took place after 2000. Ironically, this seems to indicate that the femicide rate has gone up, even as the country adopted new legislation to tackle the phenomenon. How do you account for this apparent surge in violence targeting women? On a legal level, we have cer- tainly taken huge steps forward since 2000 and in recent years. We have ratified the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention [on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence], introduced heftier penalties, new gender equality laws, and so on. But at the risk of repeating a cliche, legislative changes, on their own, do not bring about equal- ity. It is the mentality that needs to change. Legislative changes and policies do not necessarily change the traditional expecta- tions attached to women in so- ciety: such as their role of being carers and nurturers above all else; or the fact that women have traditionally been sexualised, and it is assumed that they like being so. It could be that society has not managed to catch up with these legislative changes, and needs more time. As for the presumed increase in violence towards women, we have to be cautious. There does seem to be an increase, but this could be partly put down to more aware- ness, and less under-reporting. Femicide, on the other hand, is statistically easier to quantify. It has long been an issue, but yes, statistics do indicate an in- crease. Exactly why this is hap- pening, however, is difficult to explain. From a sociological per- spective, there are explanations for individual cases of violence and murder; but why it seems to be increasing is less certain. For one thing, it is not just femicide that has gone up; there has been an overall increase in murders across the board in Malta. Perhaps: but apart from the numbers, there is also an apparent consistency in reported femicide cases. While the specific circumstances vary, in most cases the murderer will be the victim's past or present partner. Does this mean that men are becoming more possessive, even when (or maybe because) society is moving in the opposite direction? Again, I would be cautious. There are many ways to in- terpret statistics. One possi- ble explanation could be that there has been a more liberal attitude towards relationships, and how women live their in- timacy. Women today are less 'controlled', so to speak, than they used to be in the past. They have more freedom, more op- portunities and more economic independence than ever before. And they struggled to achieve it. It is important to remember that these legislative changes came about only because femi- nists fought for them. At the same time, however, society may not have changed at the same pace. While laws and in- stitutions have been amended in line with equality standards, there is still resistance to the changes. There are some men who still resist the idea of wom- en going out to work; some feel threatened by women assum- ing control of their own lives, or being able to get a better posi- tion than their own. Some are uncomfortable with the idea that women have the freedom to go out when they want to, until what time they want to, and wear what they want to... I'm not judging, but this men- tality exists. Unfortunately, the changes also work both ways. Women had less freedom and independence in the past; but in a certain sense, 'freedom' also has its downside, like everything else. The fact that women were more sheltered also gave them a certain 'protection', so to speak. At a time when women mostly stayed at home, and lived and married only in their own vil- lage, there was less chance they would meet dangerous men. So, it could be that violence towards women is not increasing be- cause men are becoming more violent. Domestic violence has always existed, but it may have been more contained in the past. One comment that often accompanies domestic violence stories is that part of the blame lies with the disintegration of Malta's traditional extended-family network. Do you agree with that view? It is true that nowadays, nu- clear families are living farther apart from the extended family. As you know, in the past most families used to live surrounded by relatives in the same village, even the same street. And it wasn't just family: neighbours, the parish priest, the local gro- cer, policemen, etc., all knew each other and had 'familial' re- lations within the community. But the extended family, in the past, also used to put more pres- sure on women to conform to societal expectations: on women to stay with their husbands, for instance, even when they were victims of a violent relationship. But it would be unwise to read too much into it either way. One of the paradoxes of domestic vi- olence is that it doesn't only in- volve external pressure. Women in general often find it very dif- ficult to leave a violent partner, for reasons that are perhaps too complicated to go into here. But there are studies that show this is true in all societies everywhere. So, in itself, it has nothing to do with recent societal changes in Malta. The difference today, perhaps, is that women have less pressure – there is still pressure, mind you, but a lot less than be- fore – to take those decisions independently. Sadly, there are still people who feel so threat- ened by it, that they even resort to murder... What this suggests, as you said earlier, is an apparent chasm between the 'new' direction Malta is taking legislatively and culturally, and those who cannot or will not accept the changes. In the extreme cases we are talking about, it extends to (mostly male) people treating their (mostly female) partners almost as 'private property'. From a sociological perspective, how do you account for this apparent possessive streak among Maltese men? I wouldn't say it is just about 'possessiveness'. OK, there are jealous husbands, and there are, unfortunately, remnants of a culture where women were re- garded on those levels. But the issue is much broader than that. It is even much broader than domestic violence itself. Malta's social structure is still very pre- dominantly patriarchal. We've taken huge strides, we've made all the necessary legal amend- ments, but let's face it: there is still massive inequality between the perceived societal roles of 'men' and 'women'. It is mani- fest in other areas apart from violence and murder... in even small things like housework. We speak of 'change' – and change did take place – but culturally, mentality, we still cling to tradi- tional gender expectations and The latest case of femicide points towards a worrying trend, whereby women face increasing rates of murder and violence, even as Malta becomes more sensitised to the issue. Socioliogist and lecturer ANGELE DEGUARA argues that legislative changes, on their own, are not enough to eradicate deep-rooted patriarchal tendencies We speak of 'change' – and change did take place – but culturally, mentality, we still cling to traditional gender expectations and roles Raphael Vassallo rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt Domestic violence is a symptom,