Jul 6, 2014 15:32
9 yrs ago
English term
ineffectual expression of anger
English
Social Sciences
Psychology
'Another important difference between the violence men and women perpetrate is that men are more likely to commit severe violence, often referred to as “battering.” Battering seems to have a different purpose for men and women. Men are more likely to use violence as a method of control, intimidation, and subjugation, whereas women are more likely to be violent as an act of self-defense or as an ineffectual expression of anger.' A. Christensen, B. Doss 'Reconcilable differences'
ineffectual - Insufficient to produce a desired effect
In this context it would mean that their expression of anger is ineffectual so when they decide to beat someone in order to express anger it just doesn't work. I have a feeling that there is more to it...
ineffectual - Insufficient to produce a desired effect
In this context it would mean that their expression of anger is ineffectual so when they decide to beat someone in order to express anger it just doesn't work. I have a feeling that there is more to it...
Responses
+4
2 hrs
Selected
it expresses their anger without doing anything to change what has made them angry
This seems to be expressing the idea of a difference between domestic violence perpetrated by men and women (male and female partners) against each other. When men do it to women it's an instrument of power, a way of controlling women. When women do it to men it's an expression of anger, but is ineffectual because it doesn't change anything: it doesn't have any effect on their partners (apart from injuring them physically).
I don't think it means that it's ineffectual as an expression of anger. Their anger is very effectively expressed. The trouble is that (according to what the author is suggesting) it doesn't do any more than that: it doesn't do anything to change or remedy whatever is making them angry. Unlike male violence against women, it doesn't serve to control their male partners, to alter their future behaviour. In that sense it's ineffectual: it's nothing more than an expression of anger; it doesn't lead anywhere or enable them to impose their will.
I don't think it means that it's ineffectual as an expression of anger. Their anger is very effectively expressed. The trouble is that (according to what the author is suggesting) it doesn't do any more than that: it doesn't do anything to change or remedy whatever is making them angry. Unlike male violence against women, it doesn't serve to control their male partners, to alter their future behaviour. In that sense it's ineffectual: it's nothing more than an expression of anger; it doesn't lead anywhere or enable them to impose their will.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Peter Simon
2 hrs
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Thanks, Peter :)
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| agree |
Phoenix III
: I egree minus the domestic violence part. Anger has many origins other than home: It's a relationship issue: Work, friends, animals, traffic, etc.
2 hrs
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Thanks, Phoenix! You're quite right; anger is a much wider issue, but I think this particular passage, which refers to "battering" (of women by men, and presumably of men by women) is specifically about domestic violence.
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| agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
: women do it out of despair, frustration, when at their wits' end
6 hrs
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Yes, that's what it amounts to, I think. Thanks, Cilian!
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| agree |
B D Finch
: I agree with Phoenix that this need not be limited to domestic violence, though I wouldn't extend it to animals and traffic.
15 hrs
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Thanks! On reflection I would agree that it could extend further. My reading was rather conditioned by the connotations of "battering", but it's quite true that the passage isn't explicitly confined to that.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
-1
53 mins
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
&
English
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian, Irish, UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
69
battering just doesn't work as way of expressing anger
...for women
You've got the meaning
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Note added at 54 mins (2014-07-06 16:26:25 GMT)
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It's implied that women They have to have to find more effective means at expressing their anger
You've got the meaning
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Note added at 54 mins (2014-07-06 16:26:25 GMT)
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It's implied that women They have to have to find more effective means at expressing their anger
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
B D Finch
: That isn't what the author is saying. Note that the "more likely" in the text. Also it can be perfectly effective for expressing anger, it just generally fails (for women) to solve the problem causing the anger.
16 hrs
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Discussion