NCJ Number
109849
Date Published
1985
Length
15 pages
Annotation
After defining and discussing the nature and incidence of battered women, this booklet briefly considers the response to wife battering, offender and victim profiles, cause theories, myths and social attitudes regarding battered women, treatment for batterers, and treatment and protection for battered women.
Abstract
Spouse abuse or battering is any physical abuse or threat of physical abuse and any emotional or sexual mistreatment of a partner. It is the single major cause of injury to women. Cause theories focus on cultural perspectives of male-female relationships and the abuse of men as children. Reasons why women remain in abusive relationships include fear, shame, hope for change, and economic dependence. Women do not freely choose to stay in such relationships out of masochistic needs. Public attitudes toward wife abuse, including those of criminal justice professionals, have been based on myth and misconceptions. The legal system's response to wife abuse has been typically ineffective, but this is changing. Treatment programs for batterers focus on assisting them in developing alternative methods for resolving conflicts. For battered women, shelters offer protection and guidance for treatment and decisionmaking. The booklet suggests steps for emergency and long-range planning, what to look for when seeking treatment, places to get help, and resources for learning more about domestic violence.