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Black And Blue Violence Theory

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Exploring Concepts of Domestic Violence in the Film, Black and Blue
Stephanie Levine
Rowan University
Sociology of the Family
Professor Callaway
November 2, 2015

The film, Black and Blue, realistically depicts what it is like to be in an abusive relationship. The main character, Frances Flynn Benedetto, a nurse undergoes extreme domestic violence by her husband, Bobby. Bobby and Frannie’s relationship in the movie clearly demonstrate concepts explained in the textbook, Marriages and Families: Diversity and Change by Mary Ann Schwartz and BarBara Marliene Scott.
In the text, Schwartz and Scott explain how women and girls are usually the victims in violent situations and the United Nations defined violence against women …show more content…
This scene exemplifies the power that Bobby has and how his occupation as a very well known detective in Brooklyn allows him to get away with the violence he perpetrates on his wife.
One of the more prevalent concepts explained in the textbook demonstrated by the relationship of Frannie and Bobby throughout the movie is the cycle of violence theory, which researcher Lenore Walker (1984) proposed. The first stage of the cycle is called tension building. “The woman becomes increasingly uncomfortable in anticipation of the impending abuse—as the male becomes more violent, the female feels less able to defend herself” (Schwartz & Scott, 2012). In the movie Frannie and Bobby demonstrate the tension building stage when Frannie and Robert, Frannie and Bobby’s son, are downstairs eating breakfast in the kitchen talking about the weekend plans and Bobby comes in and says that the family has other plans to see Bobby’s mother and then proceeds to tell Frannie to change her dress because it makes her look like a “slut”. Frannie then, very frustrated by the tension between her and her husband, goes upstairs to change her outfit. …show more content…
Frannie first fell in love with Bobby for his gentle and genuine personality, which is often recalled by Frannie making it difficult to leave her husband even after being abused. Financial stability is a challenging, yet prominent reason why women may stay in abusive relationships. Bobby has a great job and supports Frannie and their son financially, which also makes leaving an abuser very hard. Another reason Frannie feels prevented to leave her violent relationship is the fact that Bobby is a detective. After a friend of Frannie dies due to domestic violence, Frannie seeks protection for herself and her son by discreetly reaching out to a woman who works for a company that helps woman in abusive relationships. The woman explains that Frannie’s case is very difficult because of Bobby’s occupation but then reassures her that there is a way she can leave the relationship. Frannie then proceeds to flee with Robert and completely change identities in order to not be found by

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