Wife Beating

by Richard C. Levy, Roger Langley, R. langley & r.c. levy

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671820982
• ISBN13: 9780671820985
• Release Date: June 1978
• Publisher: Pocket
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.

Customer Reviews

easy-to-read intro to a tough subject

This account of domestic violence was written by two men who, although not experts in any particular field, were sufficiently concerned by this social problem to conduct their own independent research. As an overview of the problem of domestic violence, the book is of course light on certain topics - there is a fascinating overview of historical views on wife-beating, as well as a collection of incredible (though horrifying) proverbs from around the world, but the chapter on this topic is short and does not probe too deeply. Similarly, there is a brief chapter on women-on-men violence and violence within gay and lesbian couples, but most of the book ignores these issues. However, the discussion of the size of the problem and the major questions associated with wifebeating is gererally well-researched and well-written. I found this a very easy to read book. One of the highlights is a series of case studies of women suffering abuse. These narrative passages, interspersed with the more scholarly text, provide dramatic demonstration of the gravity of the issue. The major problem with this book is its age. Written in the late 1970s, it of course cannot chart the changes and progress that has been made since then. The problem is still huge, and since the writing of this book, there has been much more study of domestic violence. So it may be better to find a more recent study of violence between intimate partners. Failing that, though, this book is a good introduction.