Feminists Negotiate The State » (1st Edition)

As feminists demand government action to address gender inequality, they are confronted by the paradox of state power--a state which promises women protection, but protects the interests of men. Using domestic violence against women as a case study, this book examines the trade-offs and compromises faced by feminists in this process of negotiating with the state.

Booknews

Examines women's ability to demand and receive concessions from the various branches of the U.S. government in regard to its treatment of the issue of domestic violence. Topics explored include: the history of approaches taken by women from the colonial era to the present day; the power of the terminology used to define the issue; interactions between police, feminists, and those affected by domestic violence; the emergence of Battered Women's Syndrome as a defense in court cases; the history of the Violence Against Women Act; and an assessment of the various strategies used by feminists to engage the state in ending domestic violence Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.