Social Movements and Politics of Violence in Cohabiting Non-Marital Families

Violence in cohabiting non-marital families seldom draws public attention, and protections for these families are limited. Even with the growing number of cohabiting non-marital families of heterosexual and same-sex relationships around the world, concern about and understanding of cohabiting non-marital families in crises are general weak, and this seems to be true both for policymakers and for helping professionals. Recognition of cohabiting non-marital families of heterosexual and same-sex couples has gradually emerged during the social movements that promote diversity and inclusive community. Some members of the general public find it difficult to accept these family forms as 'proper' family forms under the influence of traditional culture and the social policy made primarily for supporting and protecting married couples. Domestic violence in cohabiting non-marital families may face even more challenges in seeking a way out. Their needs are different from the needs of those in marries families, and thus they may not get immediate and practical support provided by typical social services. Legal protection for victims from cohabiting non-marital families is also limited as most social and legal preventive and protective measures were established based on the situation of nuclear marital families. Therefore, this chapter aims to discuss the social movements and politics in combating violence in cohabiting non-marital families by literature on reviewing cohabiting non-marital families, especially in cohabiting heterosexual relationships and in same-sex couples.