Violence Against Women

Renzetti, Claire M.

doi: 10.1177/1077801206287972pmid: N/A

Martin, Kimberly; Vieraitis, Lynne M.; Britto, Sarah

doi: 10.1177/1077801206286311pmid: 16567334

Feminist theory predicts both a positive and negative relationship between gender equality and rape rates. Although liberal and radical feminist theory predicts that gender equality should ameliorate rape victimization, radical feminist theorists have argued that gender equality may increase rape in the form of male backlash. Alternatively, Marxist criminologists focus on women’s absolute socioeconomic status rather than gender equality as a predictor of rape rates, whereas socialist feminists combine both radical and Marxist perspectives. This study uses factor analysis to overcome multicollinearity limitations of past studies while exploring the relationship between women’s absolute and relative socioeconomic status on rape rates in major U.S. cities using 2000 census data. The findings indicate support for both the Marxist and radical feminist explanations of rape but no support for the ameliorative hypothesis. These findings support a more inclusive socialist feminist theory that takes both Marxist and radical feminist hypotheses into account.

Lewis, Carla S.; Griffing, Sascha; Chu, Melissa; Jospitre, Tania; Sage, Robert E.; Madry, Lorraine; Primm, Beny J.

doi: 10.1177/1077801206287285pmid: 16567335

This study examines the differential effects of adult and childhood physical and psychological abuse, abuse-specific coping, and psychological adjustment in battered women seeking emergency shelter. Multivariate regression analyses confirmed the devastating impact of psychological abuse (childhood and concurrent) on battered women’s adjustment. The results corroborated prior research suggesting a cumulative vulnerability to psychological victimization in a substantial proportion of residents. Unexpectedly, frequency of physical violence was unrelated to women’s distress. The study argues that modes of coping traditionally considered adaptive (e.g., engaged, proactive) may be unsafe for battered women and children. The multifaceted nature of survivors’ coping choices is discussed.

DeLeon-Granados, William; Wells, William; Binsbacher, Ruddyard

doi: 10.1177/1077801206287315pmid: 16567336

This article represents an effort to generate more systematic and specified discussion on the topic of unintended consequences in the movement to decrease violence against women. In this case, the consequence is increases in female arrests for domestic violence. This article builds on recent discussions by first using a sample of data to examine felony domestic violence arrest rates for men and women. The data support the conclusion that domestic violence arrests of women have increased. Second, the article presents six explanations that are derived from existing literature. Although the authors do not offer empirical tests of these explanations, this presentation can play an important part in better understanding the outcomes of criminal justice policies that are aimed at increasing victim safety.

Burstow, Bonnie

doi: 10.1177/1077801206286404pmid: 16567337

This article reframes electroconvulsive therapy as a form of violence against women. Drawing on women’s testimony and on scientific research, it establishes that this “treatment,” which is overwhelmingly given to women, results in extensive cognitive and physical impairment. Correspondingly, it functions and is experienced as a form of assault and social control, not unlike wife battery. Emergent themes include electroshock as life destroying, a sign of contempt for women, punishment, a means of enforcing sex roles, a way to silence women about other abuse, an assault, traumatizing for those who undergo it and those forced to witness it.

Gross, Michelle M.; Graham-Bermann, Sandra A.

doi: 10.1177/1077801206287306pmid: N/A

Schroff, Farah M.

doi: 10.1177/1077801206287319pmid: N/A

doi: 10.1177/1077801206288049pmid: N/A