Synopsis

The extent and harm of woman battering has long been minimized by society. Like other types of violence against women, battering generally is ignored by academics, professionals, and policymakers who focus instead on violent, random crime committed by strangers. In this exceptional text, Eigenberg shows woman battering as a means of social control, offering a feminist, social constructionist perspective. Informative articles have been selected that enhance and complement the fundamental concepts presented in the book. This much-needed volume, appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate courses, challenges readers to think critically about the social construction of crime-how social definitions of crime might change if the magnitude and seriousness of woman battering were addressed.