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Wife-Beater
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Wife-Beater
Brutish wife-beater confident of lenient treatment by legal system. Date: 1875
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 20141219
© Bubblepunk
1875 Beater Confident Legal Spouse System Treatment Violence Brutish Rights
EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting image from 1875, titled "Wife-Beater: A Confident Brute," depicts a brutish husband standing before his frightened wife and their young child. The husband's menacing demeanor and disheveled appearance are in stark contrast to the fear and vulnerability etched on the faces of his family members. At the time, domestic violence against women was a pervasive problem, and the legal system often failed to provide adequate protection for victims. Despite the clear signs of abuse, the husband appears confident that he will receive lenient treatment from the legal system. The police, who are present in the scene, seem to be doing little to intervene or offer assistance to the woman and her child. The lack of intervention from law enforcement and the judicial system was a common occurrence in cases of domestic violence during this era. The image serves as a stark reminder of the societal norms and attitudes towards domestic violence during the late 19th century. Women's rights advocates were beginning to challenge these attitudes and push for legal reforms to protect women from abuse. However, it would be several decades before significant progress was made in this area. This photograph is a poignant reminder of the importance of recognizing and addressing domestic violence, and of the need for strong legal protections for victims. It also underscores the importance of challenging societal norms that condone or minimize violence against women.
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