NCJ Number
62587
Date Published
1979
Length
549 pages
Annotation
KNOWLEDGE, INSIGHT, AND SKILLS REQUIRED FOR COUNSELING ABUSED WIVES ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH SPECIFIC SUPPORT SERVICES, LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, AND SHELTERS WHICH SEEK TO RESOLVE THE VICTIMS' DILEMMAS.
Abstract
RATHER THAN PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION OF THE NATURE OF THE ABUSE PROBLEM, THIS BOOK FOCUSES ON NECESSARY INFORMATION AND TECHNIQUES WHICH WILL HELP ABUSE VICTIMS. METHODS FOR WORKING WITH THE VICTIM, SUCH AS PEER INTERACTION, MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERVE TO IMPROVE THE SELF-IMAGE OF ABUSED SPOUSES. GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORT GROUPS EMPHASIZE THE USEFULNESS OF THE GROUP EXPERIENCE IN A FLEXIBLE STRUCTURE. DISCUSSION OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM REVEALS INEQUALITIES IN THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW AND PROVIDES STATISTICAL DATA ON INCIDENTS OF WIFE BEATING AND SPOUSAL MURDER. PROCEDURES OF THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS LAW ARE SET FORTH WITH EMPHASIS ON MEDIATION AND SEPARATION. THE PROCESS OF LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENT IS OUTLINED FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF COURT STRUCTURES AND THE RESOLUTION OF EXISTING LEGAL CONFLICTS. PEER COUNSELING AND COUPLE COUNSELING ARE SUGGESTED AS MEANS TO CONFRONT ABUSERS WITH THE UNACCEPTABILITY OF THEIR ACTIONS. AN OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH ON BATTERING OF WOMEN INDICATES THAT COUNSELORS MAY BE WARNED OF FUTURE VIOLENCE WITHIN A FAMILY BY PRELIMINARY THREATS AND DISTURBANCES. RECOMMENDED STAFFING AND TRAINING TECHNIQUES INDICATE FUNCTIONAL METHODS FOR ORGANIZING SHELTER AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND EMPHASIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BROAD-BASED COMMUNITY ENTHUSIASM. FUNDRAISING METHODS AND COUNSELING PROCEDURES ARE SET FORTH. NEVERTHELESS, THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION FOR ABUSE REQUIRES THE RESTRUCTURING OF SOCIETY TO ELIMINATE INEQUALITY ON THE BASIS OF SEX. TABLES PRESENT THE VARIOUS STATE LAWS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A STATE-BY-STATE LISTING OF SHELTERS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR BATTERED WIVES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)