Redefining Domestic Violence: An Earth-Eco-Socialist Consideration

Among the many issues being addressed by the global community, the outcry against domestic violence is at the forefront. This is so because it is viewed as a demeaning and deteriorating phenomenon. Within the confines of our society, domestic violence often involves violence against women and children and, in some cases, men. As such, it has been described as a severe issue with significant consequences for the victims. One of the many reasons for the crusade against domestic violence is its association with injustice, whereby the victims are denied freedom from abuse. However, in a world where agitations for inclusive environmental consideration persist, the domestic violence framework falls short of environmental obligation. While children, women, and men are recognized as part of our domestic environment, nonanimals and non-humans are also part of the domestic environment. Still, they are not included in the framework of domestic violence. This paper, through an earth-eco-socialist approach, aims to expose the belongingness of the environment (including non-humans and non-animals) as part of our domestic environment and argues that they should also be cared for in terms of domestic violation. It emphasizes the necessity to view domestic violence against children and, by extension, men as being partially geared towards, if not extended to the domestic natural environment. In conclusion, this paper argues that domestic violence is not only inflicted on humans (women, men, and children) but also on the environment, which is integral to a violence free domestic environment, and thus essential to be included in the framework of domestic violence. In light of this research, conceptual clarification, critical analysis, and a comparative study are employed.