Authority’s influence and the level of support for the abused woman determine whether or not a woman stays with her spouse. Obedience influences the prolonged abusive relationship. In the psychology study Opinions and Social Pressure, Asch explained, “. . . those who choose the path of compliance are unable to free themselves as the ordeal is prolonged” (Asch 21). If an individual conforms and submits to those around them, they are ensnared by conformity rather than disagreeing with the majority. Once abused individuals acquiesce to the authority of the abuser, they have difficulty liberating themselves and opposing the abuser. The longer the pattern of compliance occurs, the more trapped individuals are. While the subjects of both Asch
…show more content…
These techniques are deployed to oppress women in the relationships. Melinda Smith and Jeanne Segal illustrate how abusers employ humiliation: “An abuser will do everything he or she can to make you feel bad about yourself or defective in some way. After all, if you believe you 're worthless and that no one else will want you, you 're less likely to leave” (Smith and Segal). In The Color Purple, Mister constantly calls Celie ugly and prioritizes other women to generate feelings of insignificance in Celie. She feels as though she has no choice but to stay in the relationship, for no one else would want her. Because of the lowering of self-esteem, women are ensnared by the relationship and cannot gain the confidence needed to fight back or leave. Additionally, in Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment, the guards “. . . were physically aggressive . . . to keep the prisoners in line and referred to them in impersonal anonymous, deprecating ways” (Zimbardo 8). Comparable to Celie, the prisoners are belittled by the abusers in a fashion that forces them to obey authority while losing their sense of identity. As women are continually damaged by abuse, their confidence and sense of self is destroyed. Many feel as though their only option is to stay. Likewise, when revealing the influence of the abuser, Smith and Segal report, “He or she will commonly shift the responsibility …show more content…
The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg, illustrates the consequences of abuse and staying with the abuser. Victims are not at fault for staying with their abusive spouse, for the abuser deliberately manipulates and traps them. In addition, women are restricted by society’s stereotypical images of women. In order to liberate abused women, the abuser must be hindered from utilizing abusive tactics that reduce self-esteem and the ability to leave harmful relationships. Most importantly, these abused women require much support from outside sources in order to gain strength, obtain confidence, and realize the true detrimental nature of their relationship. Without any assistance, women will remain passive and unable to break away from their
These techniques are deployed to oppress women in the relationships. Melinda Smith and Jeanne Segal illustrate how abusers employ humiliation: “An abuser will do everything he or she can to make you feel bad about yourself or defective in some way. After all, if you believe you 're worthless and that no one else will want you, you 're less likely to leave” (Smith and Segal). In The Color Purple, Mister constantly calls Celie ugly and prioritizes other women to generate feelings of insignificance in Celie. She feels as though she has no choice but to stay in the relationship, for no one else would want her. Because of the lowering of self-esteem, women are ensnared by the relationship and cannot gain the confidence needed to fight back or leave. Additionally, in Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment, the guards “. . . were physically aggressive . . . to keep the prisoners in line and referred to them in impersonal anonymous, deprecating ways” (Zimbardo 8). Comparable to Celie, the prisoners are belittled by the abusers in a fashion that forces them to obey authority while losing their sense of identity. As women are continually damaged by abuse, their confidence and sense of self is destroyed. Many feel as though their only option is to stay. Likewise, when revealing the influence of the abuser, Smith and Segal report, “He or she will commonly shift the responsibility …show more content…
The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg, illustrates the consequences of abuse and staying with the abuser. Victims are not at fault for staying with their abusive spouse, for the abuser deliberately manipulates and traps them. In addition, women are restricted by society’s stereotypical images of women. In order to liberate abused women, the abuser must be hindered from utilizing abusive tactics that reduce self-esteem and the ability to leave harmful relationships. Most importantly, these abused women require much support from outside sources in order to gain strength, obtain confidence, and realize the true detrimental nature of their relationship. Without any assistance, women will remain passive and unable to break away from their