HKDSE Liberal Studies Sample Paper

'Low socio-economic status is the main cause of domestic violence in Hong Kong.' Do you agree to this statement? Explain your answer in the light of the above cartoon and according to your knowledge.

Framework of the essay:
(1) State your stance on this issue--> (2)Causes of domestic violence based on studies--> (3)State whether 'low socio-economic status' will aggravate the causes-->(4)conclusion

I agree to the statement that 'low socio-economic status is the main cause of domestic violence in Hong Kong'. According to studies conducted by some Non-governmental organizations in Hong Kong, Causes of domestic violence fall into three categories. They are psychological, social and socio-cultural in nature. Psychological causes are intrinsic in nature. People suffering from psychological disorders are more prone to committing domestic violence. Social causes of domestic violence are well known in Hong Kong. Offenders, learning from their peers or not knowing how to relieve their stress properly, vent their grievance and emotional stress arising from economic hardship and poor relationship with family members by bullying others. Socio-cultural causes are closely related to gender stereotyping in society. When there is a reversal of gender roles expected by society. For instance, women play the role as breadwinners and men take up the job of bringing up children. Those who are reluctant to accept the new gender role are more likely to suffer from psychological stress, which may be translated into domestic violence.

Low socio-economic status may not be the direct cause of domestic violence, but it does aggravate the direct causes mentioned above. People from the low social class hardly make a living. According to the information provided in the cartoons, there is an increaing trend of widening rich and poor gap in Hong Kong. People of the low social class are usually not well educated and easily fall victim to the economic transformation. They are more prone to unemployment and unfair treatment. Under the severe stress resulted from economic hardship, they are more likely to be inflicted by psychiatric diseases. Without proper medical treatment, their deteriorating psychological health may prompt them to commit domestic violence.

Social causes of domestic violence are closely related to socio-economic status. Owing to their low education level, people with the low socio-economic status are less well equipped with the skills required for coping with stress. In addition, they learn from their peers the use of violence to vent the grievance and stress. They don't know the proper way of dealing with stress resulted from poor family relationship such as improving communication with family members and showing them empathy.

The role of men as breadwinners in the family is well perceived in our society. As mentioned before, the widening rich and poor gap can be interpreted as high unemployment rate among people of the low socio-economic class. When a man loses his job, he can't accept the reality because he strongly believes that a man should play a dominant role in the family. If he takes up the job of bringing up children at home, a stereotyped role that a woman is expected to play, he may not be able to withstand the pressure from society. Even if he can, his spouse's meagre income cannot support the family's needs. The unwilling acceptance of the new gender role together with economic hardship can drive a man to the verge of emotional breakdown, which may be manifested in the form of domestic violence.

In conclusion, low socio-economic status may not be the direct cause of domestic violence, but it does aggravates the direct causes of domestic violence. It is not surprising to find that many cases of domestic violence in Hong Kong usually come from the low socio-economic class. The statement, 'Low socio-economic status is the main cause of domestic violence in Hong Kong', is not only grounded on evidence but also a reality in local context.