NCJ Number
73771
Date Published
1979
Length
39 pages
Annotation
A report and selective annotated bibliography focusing on crimes of violence against women are presented; topics include the history of violence and subordination of women, statistics, and causes and prevention.
Abstract
A review of current literature into the causes and prevention of violence against women through searches of three separate data bases yielded over 800 titles of journal articles written mainly between 1970 and 1977. Approximately 90 of these titles constitute a judicious sampling of journal literature from all related disciplines. Disciplines which are studying aspects of violence toward women are the behavioral sciences, criminal justice, medicine, and feminism. Four models appearing in different forms throughout the annotated bibliography explain such violent behavior. These models include victim blame, offender blame, societal blame, and situation blame. Addressing the history of violence, one writer concluded that the attitudes and social codes that exist today provide a firm foundation for male violence toward women. In addition, it is apparent that among the greatest continuing obstacles to eliminating violence are the inconclusive and varied statistics. Reliable estimates of battered women vary from 4.7 million to 15 million. Similarly, statistics for rape are also inconclusive because relatively few rapes are reported. Sex role socialization is deemed the chief cause of male violence and female submission to it. Experts agree that children who see violence between parents or who are themselves victims are more likely to become batterers and victims. Recent changes in rape laws which include a relaxation of proof requirements, the establishment of rape crisis centers, and provision of practical assistance for victims are examples of positive responses to the problem. Thirty-five references and an annotated bibliography are provided with the report.