Cruel but Not Unusual : Violence in Canadian Families

Violence in families and intimate relationships affects a significant proportion of the population—from very young children to the elderly. Although no one is immune to violence, some groups are particularly vulnerable. Cruel but Not Unusual: Violence in Canadian Families is the first book to offer a national survey of the latest research and practice, and it reflects on the patriarchal roots and societal conditions in Canada that have led to the long-standing abuse of women and children. While feminist theories provide an overarching framework, a broad range of approaches is offered to examine and respond to critical aspects of this serious social problem. Topics include: systemic oppression of Aboriginal families and communities; violence in a francophone minority context; child corporal punishment; abuse in the lives of people with disabilities; the objectification of older adults; mother blaming; intimate violence in same-sex relationships; and new approaches to solving the problem of violence in Canadian families. Introduction : Cruel But Not Unusual : Violence In The Canadian Family / Ramona Alaggia And Cathy Vine -- 1. Systemic Oppression, Violence, And Healing In Aboriginal Families And Communities / Cyndy Baskin -- 2. Violence, Protection, And Empowerment In The Lives Of Children And Adults With Disabilities / Richard Sobsey And Sonia A. Sobon -- 3. Is This Violence? : Recognizing, Defining, And Intervening In Family Violence In A Francophone Minority Context / Ina Motoi -- 4. Domestic Violence And Child Abuse : Issues For Immigrant And Refugee Families / Ramona Alaggia And Sarah Maiter -- 5. Same-sex Partner Abuse : Challenges To The Existing Paradigms Of Intimate Violence Theory / J. Roy Gillis And Shaindl Diamond -- 6. Children Abused, Neglected, And Living With Violence : An Overview / Cathy Vine, Nico Trocme And Judy Finlay -- 7. Child Corporal Punishment : Violence, Law, And Rights / Anne Mcgillivray And Joan E. Durrant -- 8. Children’s Exposure To Domestic Violence / Jasmine Hayes, Nico Trocme And Angelique Jenney -- 9. Failure To Protect : Child Welfare Interventions When Men Beat Mothers / Susan Strega -- 10. Rendering Children Invisible : The Forces At Play During Separation And Divorce In The Context Of Family Violence / Rachel Birnbaum -- 11. Framing Woman Abuse : A Structural Perspective / Sarah Todd And Colleen Lundy -- 12. Identifying, Assessing, And Treating Male Perpetrators And Abused Women / Leslie M. Tutty -- 13. Escaping Narratives Of Domination : Ideas For Clinical Practice With Women Oppressed By Relationship Violence / Judith Myers Avis -- 14. The Abuse And Neglect Of Older Adults In Canada / Lynn Mcdonald, April Collins And Julie Dergal -- 15. Older People As Objects, Not Subjects : Theory And Practice In Situations Of Elder Abuse / Joan Harblson, Para Mckinley And Donna Pettipas -- Conclusion : Future Directions - Focus For Change / Ramona Alaggia And Cathy Vine. Edited By Ramona Alaggia And Cathy Vine. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References. Violence in families and intimate relationships affects a significant proportion of the population - from very young children to the elderly. Although no one is immune to violence, some groups are particularly vulnerable. This is the first book to offer a national survey of the latest research and practice, and it reflects on the patriarchal roots and societal conditions in Canada that have led to the long-standing abuse of women and children. While feminist theories provide an overarching framework, a broad range of approaches is offered to examine and respond to critical aspects of this serious social problem. The topics include: systemic oppression of Aboriginal families and communities; violence in a francophone minority context; child corporal punishment; abuse in the lives of people with disabilities; the objectification of older adults; mother blaming; intimate violence in same-sex relationships; and new approaches to solving the problem of violence in Canadian families PART 1: VIOLENCE AND DIVERSITY: HISTORY, CULTURE AND OPPRESSION: 1. Systemic oppression, violence, and healing in Aboriginal families and communities Cyndy Baskin 2. Violence, protection, and empowerment in the lives of children and adults with disabilities Richard Sobsey and Sonia Sobon 3. Is this violence? Recognizing, defining and intervening in family violence in a Francophone minority context Ina Motoi 4. Domestic violence and child abuse: Issues for immigrant and refugee families Ramona Alaggia and Sarah Maiter 5. Same-sex partner abuse: Challenges to the existing paradigms of intimate violence theory J. Roy Gillis and Shaindl Diamond