Violence & gender reexamined / Richard B. Felson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Felson, Richard B.

Contributor:

American Psychological Association.

Series:

Law and public policy

The law and public policy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women--Violence against--United States.

Women.

Violence in men--United States.

Violence in men.

Violence--United States--Psychological aspects.

Violence.

Sexism--United States.

Sexism.

Psychological aspects.

Women--Violence against.

United States.

Physical Description:

xi, 273 pages ; 27 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

Violence and gender reexamined

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : American Psychological Association, [2002]

Summary:

Violence and Gender Reexamined challenges one of Western culture's most deeply held assumptions: that violence against women is different from violence against men. In this elegantly argued and well-researched book, author Richard B. Felson makes a case that this type of violence is rarely the result of sexism or hatred against women. The author cites research suggesting that the motives for violence against women are similar to the motives for violence against men: to gain control or retribution and to promote or defend self-image. These motives play a role in almost all violence, regardless of gender. Using a comparative method to determine how violence against women differs from violence against men, he illustrates not only that violence against women is less frequent than violence against men but also that our culture and legal system treat it more harshly. Contrary to the claims that the courts "blame the victim" in cases of violence against women, the author shows that the tradition of protection of women sometimes produces the opposite effect and that it is due process and not sexism that makes, for instance, rape cases seem biased against women. This powerful book encourages all readers, be they psychologists, lawyers, social scientists, or concerned lay people, to question preconceptions about gender and violence.

Contents:

Chapter 2. A Theory of Instrumental Aggression 11

II. Violence Inside and Outside the Family 29

Chapter 3. Comparing Frequencies 31

Chapter 4. Gender Differences in Power and Status 51

Chapter 5. Chivalry 67

Chapter 6. Privacy and Police Intervention 83

Chapter 7. Controlling Women 95

Chapter 8. Love Triangles 107

III. Rape and Sexual Coercion 119

Chapter 9. Coercive versus Consensual Sex 121

Chapter 10. Sexual Motivation 143

Chapter 11. Sexism and Sexual Coercion 163

Chapter 12. Sexual Coercion and the Law 183.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1557988951

OCLC:

48966633