Middle-aged women are the biggest victims of family violence, but evidence suggests younger men are quicker to begin beating their wives, according to a recent survey.

 

The Shanghai Women's Federation and Fudan University surveyed 241 women who have sought help for domestic violence to understand the problem and search for new trends.

 

About 41 percent of the women surveyed are between the ages of 40 and 49, the largest group in the study.

 

"Women of this age are undergoing a transfer period both physically and socially because they are entering menopause and many are laid-off or near retirement. They deserve more attention and care from society," said Cai Lanzhen of the women's federation.

 

According to the survey, 83 percent of the questioned victims encountered family violence during their first marriage. It took between one and 64 years for husbands to turn violent, with the first punch being thrown 14 years after marriage on average.

 

For women under the age of 34, 71 percent said their marriage turned violent within three years of their wedding day.

 

"This phenomenon reflects the marriage relations of the young generation are fragile and they are irrational sometimes in dealing with marriage," Cai said. "So we must strengthen marriage and responsibility education to young people."

 

Second marriages are also a concern to the federation. More than 90 percent of the 34 surveyed women who had married a second time said that marriage turned violent within three years.

 

The survey also suggested the weak economic status of women forced many to stay in unhappy relationships.

 

Only 148 of the 241 women surveyed have jobs, with the monthly income just 1,079 yuan (US$135). About 97 percent of the women earn less than the city's average monthly income of 2,033 yuan, according to the survey.

 

"Because I earned just 500 yuan a month, I had to do all the housework. But my husband still beat me whenever he was unhappy," said a woman surnamed Chen who has long endured family violence.

 

"I didn't dare divorce since I would have nowhere to live."

 

(Shanghai Daily July 18, 2006)