Who Owns Domestic Abuse? : The Local Politics of a Social Problem

With the knowledge and sensitivity of a teacher and counsellor, Ruth M. Mann details a community effort to establish a shelter for abused women in a small Ontario municipality. While other literature presents the ostensibly cohesive views of particular interest groups on the issue of domestic violence, Mann exposes the conflicts that actually occur, and the ways these conflicts fuel unintended outcomes. In Who Owns Domestic Abuse? The Local Politics of a Social Problem , the author ventures bravely into the politically charged debate over the definition of abuse, and emphasizes the fact that 'owning' a problem does not ensure the possession of viable answers. Rather than promoting a particular response to such problems, Mann uses personal accounts of abuse to make a space for the diverse perspectives of abused women and abusive men. She urges activists and intervenors to argue less and listen more. Contents 7 Preface 9 Acknowledgments 13 Acronyms 15 1. Theoretical and Political Contexts 17 2. The Study, the Community, and 'The Problem' 35 3. Mobilization of Action: Struggles for Control 55 4. Implementation of a Plan of Action: Struggles with Control 83 5. Counselling and Therapeutic Intervenors 105 6. Law Enforcement, Legal, and Medical Intervenors 129 7. Victims, Perpetrators, and Survivors 149 8. A Researcher's Construction of 'The Problem': Conclusion 213 Appendix 1. General Ethical Considerations 225 Appendix 2. Data Collection Methods 227 Appendix 3. Letter of Introduction (Hand-delivered to All Interview Respondents) 229 Appendix 4.1. Consent Form for Interviewees - Activists and Professionals 231 Appendix 4.2. Consent Form for Interviewees - Residents 233 Appendix 5. Letter of Introduction (Mailed to Prospective Survey Respondents 235 Appendix 6. Phone Introduction: Survey on Violence and Abuse 237 Appendix 7. Request to Contact Partners for Couple Follow-up: Survey on Violence and Abuse 238 Appendix 8. Respondents' Responses to the Manuscript (April 1997) 239 Tables: Summaries of Demographic and Survey Data 243 Notes 279 Bibliography 299 Author Index 321 Subject Index 327