Why Don't You Just Talk To Him?: The Politics Of Domestic Abuse University Press Scholarship Online

__Why Don't You Just Talk to Him?__ looks at the broad political contexts in which violence, specifically domestic violence, occurs. Kathleen Arnold argues that liberal and Enlightenment notions of the social contract, rationality and egalitarianism -- the ideas that constitute norms of good citizenship -- have an inextricable relationship to violence. According to this dynamic, targets of abuse are not rational, make bad choices, are unable to negotiate with their abusers, or otherwise violate norms of the social contract; they are, thus, second-class citizens. In fact, as Arnold shows, drawing from Nietzsche and Foucault's theories of power and arguing against much of the standard policy literature on domestic violence, the very mechanisms that purportedly help targets of domestic abuse actually work to compound the problem by exacerbating (or ignoring) the power differences between the abuser and the abused. The book argues that a key to understanding how to prevent domestic violence is seeing it as a political rather than a personal issue, with political consequences. It seeks to challenge Enlightenment ideas about intimacy that conceive of personal relationships as mutual, equal and contractual. Put another way, it challenges policy ideas that suggest that targets of abuse can simply choose to leave abusive relationships without other personal or economic consequences, or that there is a clear and consistent level of help once they make the choice to leave. Asking "Why Don't You Just Talk to Him?" is in reality a suggestion riven with contradictions and false choices. Arnold further explores these issues by looking at two key asylum cases that highlight contradictions within the government's treatment of foreigners and that of long-term residents. These cases expose problematic assumptions in the approach to domestic violence more generally. Exposing major injustices from the point of view of domestic violence targets, this book promises to generate further debate, if not consensus. Présentation de l'éditeur : "Why Don't You Just Talk to Him? looks at the broad political contexts in which violence, specifically domestic violence, occurs. Kathleen Arnold argues that liberal and Enlightenment notions of the social contract, rationality and egalitarianism - the ideas that constitute norms of good citizenship - have an inextricable relationship to violence. According to this dynamic, targets of abuse are not rational, make bad choices, are unable to negotiate with their abusers, or otherwise violate norms of the social contract; they are, thus, second-class citizens. In fact, as Arnold shows, drawing from Nietzsche and Foucault's theories of power and arguing against much of the standard policy literature on domestic violence, the very mechanisms that purportedly help targets of domestic abuse actually work to compound the problem by exacerbating (or ignoring) the power differences between the abuser and the abused. The book argues that a key to understanding how to prevent domestic violence is seeing it as a political rather than a personal issue, with political consequences. It seeks to challenge Enlightenment ideas about intimacy that conceive of personal relationships as mutual, equal and contractual. Put another way, it challenges policy ideas that suggest that targets of abuse can simply choose to leave abusive relationships without other personal or economic consequences, or that there is a clear and consistent level of help once they make the choice to leave. Asking "Why Don't You Just Talk to Him?" is in reality a suggestion riven with contradictions and false choices. Arnold further explores these issues by looking at two key asylum cases that highlight contradictions within the government's treatment of foreigners and that of long-term residents. These cases expose problematic assumptions in the approach to domestic violence more generally. Exposing major injustices from the point of view of domestic violence targets, this book promises to generate further debate, if not consensus." This Study Examines The Broad Political Contexts In Which Violence, Specifically Domestic Violence, Occurs. The Author Argues That Liberal And Enlightenment Notions Of The Social Contract, Rationality, And Egalitarianism--the Ideas That Constitute Norms Of Good Citizenship--are Inextricably Linked To Violence. According To This Dynamic, Targets Of Abuse Are Viewed As Being Irrational, Incapable Of Making Good Choices Or Negotiating With Their Abusers, Or Otherwise Violating Norms Of The Social Contract; They Are, In Other Words, Second-class Citizens. In Fact, As The Author Shows, Drawing From Nietzsche And Foucault's Theories Of Power And Aruging Against Much Of The Standard Literature On Domestic Violence, The Very Mechanisms That Purportedly Help Targets Of Domestic Abuse Actually Work To Compound The Problem By Exacerbating (or Ignoring) The Power Differences Between The Abuser And The Abused. The Key To Preventing Domestic Violence, The Author Contends, Lies In Seeing It As A Political Rather Than A Personal Issue That Has Political Consequences. Enlightenment Ideas About Intimacy That Conceive Of Personal Relationships As Mutual, Equal, And Contractual Must Be Challenged, As Well As Policy Ideas That Suggest Targets Of Abuse Can Simply Choose To Leave Abusive Relationships Without Other Personal Or Economic Consequences.--from Publisher Description. Introduction -- 1. The Politics Of Abuse And Realism -- 2. The Context Of The Problem -- 3. Domestic Abuse And The Limits Of Communication (foucault, Habermas And Beyond) -- 4. The Enlightenment And Violence -- 5. Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Selected Bibliography -- Index. Kathleen R. Arnold. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This study examines the broad political contexts in which violence, specifically domestic violence, occurs. The author argues that liberal and Enlightenment notions of the social contract, rationality, and egalitarianism--the ideas that constitute norms of good citizenship--are inextricably linked to violence. According to this dynamic, targets of abuse are viewed as being irrational, incapable of making good choices or negotiating with their abusers, or otherwise violating norms of the social contract; they are, in other words, second-class citizens. In fact, as the author shows, drawing from Nietzsche and Foucault's theories of power and arguing against much of the standard literature on domestic violence, the very mechanisms that purportedly help targets of domestic abuse actually work to compound the problem by exacerbating (or ignoring) the power differences between the abuser and the abused. The key to preventing domestic violence, the author contends, lies in seeing it as a political rather than a personal issue that has political consequences. Enlightenment ideas about intimacy that conceive of personal relationships as mutual, equal, and contractual must be challenged, as well as policy ideas that suggest targets of abuse can simply choose to leave abusive relationships without other personal or economic consequences.--From publisher description Calling attention to domestic abuse as a political problem, this book seeks to challenge Enlightenment notions of intimacy that profoundly mistake the nature of control and abuse. In turn, the anti-Enlightenment aspects of intimacy are rooted in tensions and contradictions of American society, which often assume that communication and egalitarian practices (such as mediation) preclude destructive tendencies and hostility. The book explores how Enlightenment ideals continue to deny or obscure hierarchy, coercive control, and violence even while they make these dynamics possible