0`12 K
In Finland, as other countries, marriages often fail. But alarmingly, here there is an abnormally high incidence of violence.
This video encourages women to cry out. A few months ago a womens help line was set up.
0`36 K
There has been a concerted drive by police in recent months, but the lives of so many women have already been blighted. We accompany a patrol in the Malmi quarter, one of Helsinkis problem zones. Family trauma is everywhere here.
0`50 K
As nightfall approaches, the patrols work begins. Communication breakdowns here are often compensated for by the bottle.
Over recent years the law has been tightened up against violent husbands, but neither slowly changing social attitudes, nor the police, seem to have been having any effect against the rising tide of domestic violence.
Husbands are ordered to leave their homes, or wives are ordered to move into womens houses, but the problems remain. Lack of communication continues and laws remain ineffective.
1`19 K
The warring the police witness behind closed doors is ugly, and these police photos show some of the gruesome details.
1`43 K
This womans ordeal lasted 30 years.
Her husband tried to set light to her but the neighbours raised the alarm.
1`54 OT Anneli Aunola, Policewoman Helsinki-Malmi
It may sound strange, but many of the women who come here blame themselves. It was their fault because they didnt bring the dinner in on time or didnt want to have sex. We try to make it clear to them first of all that they, and not their husbands, are the victims, but most of them wont accept that.
2`22 K
Forced intercourse is prevalent throughout all layers of society in Finland. But it is difficult for women to tell anyone. Violence between partners is a taboo subject in Finland.
2`57 OT Sirkka Perttu, Crisis Help Line for Women, Helsinki
Families in Finland are completely insular. Privacy is sacrosanct. Everyone keeps their problems to themselves, everyone is alone; no problem can be discussed within the family and no conflict resolved. Silence is Golden, people say here. Women can communicate with each other, but for men that is hopeless. The situation is slightly better amongst the younger generation.
3`23 K
Rauni Kortesalmi went through all the options. Psychiatric treatment, refuge at the Womens Housing with her children, and crisis consultations. After ten years of marriage to a priest this midwife lost her confidence and ability to interact with other people.
3`41 OT Rauni Kortesalmi, Midwife
Soon after our wedding day was a terrible incident; he called me a whore and beat me; the bouquet was thrown at my feet then he suddenly changed and was solicitous and loving again, but that never lasted long. We have seven children and every day he wanted sex three or four times. If refused him he was brutally violent, often in front of the children. We had terrible quarrels; the neighbours heard everything, but nobody intervened. I seriously considered committing suicide at that time.
4`19 K
The evenings spent at her home in Helsinki were the times Rauni Kortesalmi was most afraid. The times when her husband would go to the pub and get drunk, like so many others.
4`32 K
This pub in Malmi, a working-quarter in Helsinki is not in an area populated by the wealthy or privileged. However, it is full almost every night, despite the horrendous price of alcohol.
5`05 K
There is always money for drink, say these two. But they also admit drinking heavily breeds aggressive behaviour.
Yesterday a woman went home from this pub with a black eye. Any suggestion of domestic violence elicits an ambiguous gesture
5`29 K
This battered woman, on her way to hospital, claims she had an unlucky accident.
Statistics estimate that about 10,000 women each year are physically or sexually assaulted. To run away from the problem, to seek cover in anonymity, is practically impossible. Finland has a very small population and there are very few relief organisations. Women must bear their troubles with stoicism.
6`06 OT Erja Halmesmäki, doctor and research scientist
Maybe Finnish women are so strong because of where they live; if they want something done they have to do it themselves. I also believe that Finnish men are completely disconcerted by strong women. It is hard to know nowadays what makes a good husband. Some times, when necessary, a man has to appear strong, at other times he has to be a tender father. Men dont know how to behave in order to be a good husband or partner.
6`44 K
Domestic violence is well enshrined in Finnish culture. Children see their mothers being hit or humiliated and no one reacting and so the problems are handed down from generation to generation.
But the breakdown of the patriarchal system has left many men in the cold. Unused to being challenged by their wives and children, increasing frustration is creeping in
7`20 OT Juha Pekka Salonen, Crisis Help Line for Men
Men very often blame their wives; she has nagged him or cooked badly. These are the reasons that are given for their explosions of temper. They notice quite late that they are the ones who are responsible; this may be because of work pressures or other problems. This is the most difficult hurdle to clear.
7`55 K
This was the hurdle that Helena Rikkonens ex-husband could not negotiate. He was pathologically jealous and used to shove her against the wall whenever she looked at someone else or came home a few minutes late. She kept all the humiliation to herself and played the outward part of the successful career woman.
8`14 OT Helena Rikkonen, Architect
Rape was a type of cruel game that my husband played which was nearly as bad as the psychological humiliation. He was constantly unfaithful.
8`35
But what I cannot come to terms with is my childlessness. My husband infected me with so many sexually-transmitted diseases that I have become infertile. I cannot forgive him for that.
8`50
Today Helena Rikkonen lives in one of the many single apartments in Helsinki. Behind the beautiful façades with the warm lighting, where no one suspects what problems love and passion bring with them.
In Finland, as other countries, marriages often fail. But alarmingly, here there is an abnormally high incidence of violence.
This video encourages women to cry out. A few months ago a womens help line was set up.
0`36 K
There has been a concerted drive by police in recent months, but the lives of so many women have already been blighted. We accompany a patrol in the Malmi quarter, one of Helsinkis problem zones. Family trauma is everywhere here.
0`50 K
As nightfall approaches, the patrols work begins. Communication breakdowns here are often compensated for by the bottle.
Over recent years the law has been tightened up against violent husbands, but neither slowly changing social attitudes, nor the police, seem to have been having any effect against the rising tide of domestic violence.
Husbands are ordered to leave their homes, or wives are ordered to move into womens houses, but the problems remain. Lack of communication continues and laws remain ineffective.
1`19 K
The warring the police witness behind closed doors is ugly, and these police photos show some of the gruesome details.
1`43 K
This womans ordeal lasted 30 years.
Her husband tried to set light to her but the neighbours raised the alarm.
1`54 OT Anneli Aunola, Policewoman Helsinki-Malmi
It may sound strange, but many of the women who come here blame themselves. It was their fault because they didnt bring the dinner in on time or didnt want to have sex. We try to make it clear to them first of all that they, and not their husbands, are the victims, but most of them wont accept that.
2`22 K
Forced intercourse is prevalent throughout all layers of society in Finland. But it is difficult for women to tell anyone. Violence between partners is a taboo subject in Finland.
2`57 OT Sirkka Perttu, Crisis Help Line for Women, Helsinki
Families in Finland are completely insular. Privacy is sacrosanct. Everyone keeps their problems to themselves, everyone is alone; no problem can be discussed within the family and no conflict resolved. Silence is Golden, people say here. Women can communicate with each other, but for men that is hopeless. The situation is slightly better amongst the younger generation.
3`23 K
Rauni Kortesalmi went through all the options. Psychiatric treatment, refuge at the Womens Housing with her children, and crisis consultations. After ten years of marriage to a priest this midwife lost her confidence and ability to interact with other people.
3`41 OT Rauni Kortesalmi, Midwife
Soon after our wedding day was a terrible incident; he called me a whore and beat me; the bouquet was thrown at my feet then he suddenly changed and was solicitous and loving again, but that never lasted long. We have seven children and every day he wanted sex three or four times. If refused him he was brutally violent, often in front of the children. We had terrible quarrels; the neighbours heard everything, but nobody intervened. I seriously considered committing suicide at that time.
4`19 K
The evenings spent at her home in Helsinki were the times Rauni Kortesalmi was most afraid. The times when her husband would go to the pub and get drunk, like so many others.
4`32 K
This pub in Malmi, a working-quarter in Helsinki is not in an area populated by the wealthy or privileged. However, it is full almost every night, despite the horrendous price of alcohol.
5`05 K
There is always money for drink, say these two. But they also admit drinking heavily breeds aggressive behaviour.
Yesterday a woman went home from this pub with a black eye. Any suggestion of domestic violence elicits an ambiguous gesture
5`29 K
This battered woman, on her way to hospital, claims she had an unlucky accident.
Statistics estimate that about 10,000 women each year are physically or sexually assaulted. To run away from the problem, to seek cover in anonymity, is practically impossible. Finland has a very small population and there are very few relief organisations. Women must bear their troubles with stoicism.
6`06 OT Erja Halmesmäki, doctor and research scientist
Maybe Finnish women are so strong because of where they live; if they want something done they have to do it themselves. I also believe that Finnish men are completely disconcerted by strong women. It is hard to know nowadays what makes a good husband. Some times, when necessary, a man has to appear strong, at other times he has to be a tender father. Men dont know how to behave in order to be a good husband or partner.
6`44 K
Domestic violence is well enshrined in Finnish culture. Children see their mothers being hit or humiliated and no one reacting and so the problems are handed down from generation to generation.
But the breakdown of the patriarchal system has left many men in the cold. Unused to being challenged by their wives and children, increasing frustration is creeping in
7`20 OT Juha Pekka Salonen, Crisis Help Line for Men
Men very often blame their wives; she has nagged him or cooked badly. These are the reasons that are given for their explosions of temper. They notice quite late that they are the ones who are responsible; this may be because of work pressures or other problems. This is the most difficult hurdle to clear.
7`55 K
This was the hurdle that Helena Rikkonens ex-husband could not negotiate. He was pathologically jealous and used to shove her against the wall whenever she looked at someone else or came home a few minutes late. She kept all the humiliation to herself and played the outward part of the successful career woman.
8`14 OT Helena Rikkonen, Architect
Rape was a type of cruel game that my husband played which was nearly as bad as the psychological humiliation. He was constantly unfaithful.
8`35
But what I cannot come to terms with is my childlessness. My husband infected me with so many sexually-transmitted diseases that I have become infertile. I cannot forgive him for that.
8`50
Today Helena Rikkonen lives in one of the many single apartments in Helsinki. Behind the beautiful façades with the warm lighting, where no one suspects what problems love and passion bring with them.