FORMS OF PETTY VIOLENCE- The Nature and Circumstances of Masculine and Feminine Assaults

Chapter 5: Forms of Petty Violence: The Nature and Circumstances of Masculine and Feminine Assaults

Introduction to Petty Violence

  • Examination of petty violence in early 18th-century London.

  • Analysis of assault prosecutions to identify general patterns related to gender and culture.

  • Distinction between socially acceptable forms of violence and those perceived as violations.

Understanding Violence vs. Violation

  • Alexandra Shepard’s Concept: Differentiates violence (socially acceptable) and violation (prosecutable).

  • Forms of physical aggression by authority figures seen as normative.

  • Only excessive or status-disparate violence recognized legally as violation.

  • Assaults needed to align with societal norms to be legal.

Gender Dynamics in Assault Prosecutions

  • Husband vs. Wife Prosecutions: Extremely few husbands accused their wives, indicating social biases.

  • Assumptions about gender roles influenced the prosecution of assaults.

  • Acknowledgment of women's capacity for violence challenges traditional views of it being masculine.

  • One-third of all assault prosecutions involved female defendants, suggesting prevalent female aggression.

Patterns of Assault Types

  1. Basic Forms of Assault:

    • Common actions: kicking, scratching, use of threats.

    • Men and women employed similar methods, but differences existed in motivations and physical actions.

  2. Humiliation Tactics:

    • Specific assault tactics aimed at humiliating victims (e.g., skirt lifting or dewigging).

    • Public ridicule through tearing clothes or exposing body parts as a method of shaming.

Contexts and Locations of Violence

  • Geographic Analysis: Certain parts of London seen as more dangerous (e.g., highways versus private homes).

  • Societal fears surrounding women's presence in public after dark mirrored fears of violence.

  • Many assaults originated from disputes related to money, alcohol, or neighborhood tensions.

Comparison of Gendered Assault Dynamics

  • Both genders targeted their own sex more frequently for assaults.

  • Women particularly relied on hand-based attacks (striking) versus foot attacks (kicking), which were less common.

  • Instances of violence using domestic items as weapons (e.g., kitchen tools for women).

Threats and Psychological Warfare

  • Verbal threats were common tools of both male and female assailants.

  • Graphic threats by women matched or rivaled those of men, showcasing a disturbing equality in aggression.

  • Intent to humiliate was pronounced in many recorded recognizances.

Symbolism and Public Perception

  • Actions such as ducking or throwing filth were acts of humiliation available to both genders.

  • Public assaults often had both personal and communal implications.

  • Assaults in taverns or public markets were a common arena for disputes.

Conclusion on Gendered Violence in London (1680-1720)

  • Violence in this period must be interpreted against a backdrop of complexity in gender roles.

  • Both men and women demonstrated potential for violence, often reflecting societal norms of humiliation and aggression.

  • Local context and public perceptions layered over personal motivations to shape incidents of petty violence.