NCJ Number
51377
Editor(s)
J R CHAPMAN,
M GATES
Date Published
1978
Length
282 pages
Annotation
THIS ANTHOLOGY CONSIDERS ASPECTS OF VIOLENCE, SEX, AND POWER AS THEY RELATE TO THE PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL VICTIMIZATION OF WOMEN.
Abstract
THE SELECTION OF ARTICLES FOR THIS VOLUME WAS GUIDED BY THE PREMISE THAT THE ABUSE OF WOMEN AND FEMALE CHILDREN IN OUR SOCIETY IS THE NATURAL RESULT OF A SEXIST SOCIAL ORDER. FEMALE VICTIMIZATION, TREATMENT MODALITIES, AND PREVENTION TECHNIQUES ARE DISCUSSED BY CONTRIBUTING PRACTITIONERS, PLANNERS, AND POLICY-ORIENTED PROFESSIONALS CONCERNED WITH DISCOVERING AND DESTROYING THE CAUSES OF THE VARIOUS ABUSES. MANIFESTATION OF THE MALE ROLE IN THE VICTIMIZATION OF WOMEN IS EXAMINED. ASPECTS OF RAPE ARE EXPLORED WITH RESPECT TO OFFENDERS, VICTIMS, COUNSELING/ADVOCACY SERVICES, AND RAPE LAW. THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IS DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO PROBLEMS IN DEFINING AND IDENTIFYING ABUSE, THE SCOPE AND DYNAMICS OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE EFFECT OF BOTH THE ABUSE AND SOCIETY'S REACTION ON THE VICTIM. PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CHANGE ARE NOTED. CONSIDERATION OF THE PROBLEM OF BATTERED WOMEN INCLUDES HISTORICAL ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN, THE FAILURE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM, THE INADEQUACIES OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SOCIAL BIAS, CHANGING POLICE ATTITUDES, REMEDIAL LEGISLATION, AND EMERGENCY SHELTER CARE. TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES ENCOMPASS THOSE BASED ON INTERDEPENDENCE AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS, THE ENGLISH MODEL FOR REFUGES AND SHELTERS, EXAMPLES OF AMERICAN REFUGES, AND THE LIMITATIONS OF SAFEHOUSES. THE FAILURE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT PROTECTION OF BATTERED WOMEN IS UNDERSCORED. FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF THE PROSTITUTE AS VICTIM, THE NONCRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION OF WOMEN IS EXAMINED, WITH EMPHASIS ON ON-THE-JOB SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SEXUAL BIAS, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. FINALLY, THE ECONOMICS OF WOMEN'S VICTIMIZATION ARE ASSESSED WITH RESPECT TO FACTORS OF DEPENDENCE IN FAMILY VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE, HARASSMENT AND MEDICAL EXPLOITATION, THE PROFITS DERIVED FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN ADVERTISING AND PORNOGRAPHY, ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS, AND THE SOCIAL COSTS OF FEMALE VICTIMIZATION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED IN EACH CHAPTER. SEE ALSO NCJ 51378-51385 (KBL)