NCJ Number
163241
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Violence against women has been a long-standing, pervasive problem, one that is not limited by age, race, class, or culture.
Abstract
The existence of violence against women has been perpetuated and minimized by several influential misconceptions and beliefs, the more prevalent of which include: (1) a man's home is his castle and what goes on there is sacrosanct and immune from public intervention; (2) when a woman is abused, it is typically because she has done something to deserve it or in some way enjoys it; (3) woman battering is primarily a lower class phenomenon and is not worthy of major attention; and (4) it is more important to keep a family intact than to cause disruption by recognizing abuse. These misconceptions and beliefs have been challenged over the past 25 years and their demise has been facilitated by the women's movement. As the feminist movement has gained in stature, so have the demands for empowerment and justice throughout society. Recognition of the abuse of women has also been heightened by the fact that many police officers have been killed while intervening in domestic abuse situations. Surveys indicate that females suffer the most significant effects of violence and that more than 25 percent of all women have been victims of abuse by a spouse or an intimate partner. The role of social workers in helping battered women is examined, and the need for a diverse range of intervention strategies is emphasized.