e-ISSN 2231-8534
ISSN 0128-7702
Tharshini Sivabalan, Faizah Haji Mas’ud and Dolly Paul Carlo
Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Volume 30, Issue 2, June 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.30.2.05
Keywords: Disability, exploitative, friendship, Malaysia, mate crime, vulnerability
Published on: 9 June 2022
Individuals with disabilities are highly exposed to mate crime victimisation than their non-disabled counterparts. This research aims to identify mate crime victimisation among people with disabilities in Sarawak, Malaysia. Data was quantitatively collected among 151 respondents from various governmental and non-governmental organisations in Kuching, Kota Samarahan, and Asajaya that provide residential care, medical attention, training, work opportunities, basic education, and rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities. It was found that most respondents (females between 18 and 28 years old) experienced mate crime victimisation, particularly financial abuse (F₂‚₁₄₈ = 5.905, p = .003) and sexual abuse (F₂‚₁₄₈ = 10.234, p = .001). It is deemed important to identify mate crime victimisation against such individuals with sufficient proof to enable law enforcement agencies and policymakers to develop optimal approaches and programmes that complement the needs of individuals with disabilities and alleviate potential mate crime victimisations.
Ambitious About Autism. (2015, November 17). Mate crime. https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/blog/mate-crime
Amborski, A. M., Bussieres, E., Vaillancourt-Morel, M., & Joyal, C. C. (2021). Sexual violence against persons with disabilities. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838021995975
American Psychological Association. (2016). Sexual abuse. https://www.apa.org/topics/sexual-assault-harassment
Ann Craft Trust. (2012). What is financial abuse. https://www.anncrafttrust.org/what-is-financial-abuse/
Association for Real Change. (2013). Mate crime. https://arcuk.org.uk/safetynet/
Barron, I., Allardyce, S., Young, H., & Levit, R. (2019). Exploration of the relationship between severe and complex disabilities and child sexual abuse: A call for relevant research. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 28(7), 759-780. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2019.1645782
Basile, K. C., Breiding, M. J., & Smith, S. G. (2016). Disability and risk of recent sexual violence in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 106(5), 928-933. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.303004
Bernama. (2021, January 6). Six nabbed over suspected abuse, death of disabled toddler. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/655034/six-nabbed-over-suspected-abuse-death-disabled-toddler
Bowen, E., & Swift, C. (2019). The prevalence and correlates of partner violence used and experienced by adults with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review and call to action. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 20(5), 693-705. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838017728707
Buhagiar, S., & Lane, C. A. (2022). Freedom from financial abuse: Persons with intellectual disability discuss protective strategies aimed at empowerment and supported decision-making. Disability and Society, 37(3), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1833312
Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2017). Crime against persons with disabilities (2009-2015). https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/capd0915st.pdf
Calderon, R., & Greenberg, M. T. (2003). Social and emotional development of deaf children. Oxford University Press.
Capaldi, D. M., Knoble, N. B., Shortt, J. W., & Kim, H. K. (2012). A systematic review of risk factors for intimate partner violence. Partner Abuse, 3(2), 231-80. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.3.2.231
Chatzitheochari, S., Parsons, S., & Platt, L. (2016). Doubly disadvantaged? Bullying experiences among disabled children and young people in England. Sociology, 50(4), 695-713. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038515574813
Davies, L., Ford-Gilboe, M., Willson, A., Varcoe, C., Wuest, J., Campbell, J., & Scott-Storey, K. (2015). Patterns of cumulative abuse among female survivors of intimate partner violence: Links to women’s health and socioeconomic status. Violence Against Women, 21(1), 30-48. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801214564076
Deaf Hope. (2021). Deaf power and control wheel. http://www.deaf-hope.org/domestic-violence/power-and-control-wheel/
Doherty, G. (2020). Prejudice, friendship and the abuse of disabled people: An exploration into the concept of exploitative familiarity (mate crime). Disability and Society, 35(9), 1457-1482. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2019.1688646
Donovan, C., Macdonald, S. J., & Clayton, J. (2018). New direction in gate reporting research: Agency, heterogeneity and relationality. Sociological Review, 24(2), 1360-7804. https://doi.org/10.1177/1360780418798848
Douglas, H., & Hurpur, P. (2020). Intelectual disabilities, domestic violence and legal engagement. Disability and Society, 31(3), 305-321. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2016.1167673
Duke, T. S. (2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth with disabilities: A meta-synthesis. Journal of LGBT Youth, 8(1), 1-52. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2011.519181
Farmer, M., & Macleod, F. (2011). Involving disabled people in social research: Guidance by the office for disability issues. Office for Disability Issues, Government of the United Kingdom. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321254/involving-disabled-people-in-social-research.pdf
Fisher, M. H., Corr, C., & Morin, L. (2016). Victimization of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan. International Review of Research in Developmental Disabilities, 51, 233-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irrdd.2016.08.001
Fisher, M. H., Moskowitz, A. L., & Hodapp, R. M. (2012). Vulnerability and experiences related to social victimization among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 5, 32-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2011.592239
Fitzsimons, N. M., Hagemeister, A. K., & Braun, E. J. (2011). Interpersonal violence against people with disabilities: Understanding the problem from a rural context. Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 10(3), 166-188. https://doi.org/10.1080/1536710x.2011.596437
Forster, S., & Pearson, J. (2020). Bullies tend to be obvious: autistic adults’ perceptions of friendship and the concept of “mate crime”. Disability & Society, 35(7), 1103-1123. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2019.1680347
Garland, J. (2011). Difficulties in defining hate crime victimization. International Review of Victimology, 18(1), 25-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269758011422473
Gordon, J. S., Poder, J. C., & Burckhart, H. (2017). Human rights and disability – interdisciplinary perspectives (1st ed.). Routledge, Taylor & Francis.
Gravell, C. (2012). Loneliness and cruelty: People with intellectual disabilities and their experience of harassment, abuse, and related crime in the community. Lemos & Crane.
Jones, L., Bellis, M., Wood, S., Hughes, K. McCoy, E., Eckley, L., Bates, G., Mikton, C., Shakespeare, T., & Officer, A. (2012). Prevalence and risk of violence against children with disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. The Lancet, 380(9845), 899-907. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60692-8
Landman, R. A. (2014). A counterfeit friendship: Mate crime and people with learning disabilities. The Journal of Adult Protection, 16(6), 355-365. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-10-2013-0043
Macdonald, S. J., Donovan, C., & Clayton, J. (2021). I may be left with no choice but to end my torment: Disability and intersectionalities of hate crime. Disability and Society, 30(3), 353-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2021.1928480
Man ‘bullied to death’ by gang. (2007, June 13). BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/6748647.stm
ISSN 0128-7702
e-ISSN 2231-8534
Recent Articles