|
peaceful waters
photo by Laura Weselmann
NEWS ARTICLES
Slayings during pregnancy not rare
By Troy Anderson, Staff
Writer
Published: Tuesday,
December 14, 2004
When Scott Peterson
arrives on Death Row, he will not be the only man
there awaiting execution for killing his pregnant
wife.
Although relatively
uncommon, the phenomenon of men killing pregnant
wives and girlfriends isn't as rare as the massive
publicity of the Peterson case might suggest,
experts say.
In fact, at least one
national study found that homicide was the leading
cause of death among pregnant women.
If a judge approves the
jury's verdict Monday to sentence Peterson to death,
Peterson will join Michael Hamilton and William
Dennis, who were sentenced to die for the exact same
crime, said Dane Gillette, a California senior
assistant attorney general who handles death penalty
appeal cases.
Hamilton gunned down his
pregnant wife in 1981 in Fresno. Prosecutors said he
wanted to collect $100,000 in life insurance money.
Dennis, wearing a wolf
mask, posed as a trick-or-treater and hacked his
pregnant wife to death with a machete on Halloween
1984 in their San Jose home. He cut out the
8-month-old fetus, hacked its foot off and threw it
on the floor.
"We have one case
pending now where a guy allegedly killed his wife
when she was pregnant," said Los Angeles County
District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Sandi
Gibbons.
Some 324,000 pregnant
women -- one in 12 -- are battered by their intimate
partners each year, making abuse more common for
pregnant women than gestational diabetes or
preeclampsia, according to the Family Violence
Prevention Fund, a national organization dedicated
to preventing family violence.
Of all women slain in
the United States in 2000, more than 33 percent were
killed by an intimate partner, according to the U.S.
Department of Justice.
"Pregnant women are at
higher risk for violence," said Debbie Lee, managing
director of the fund. "A Maryland study found
homicide was the leading cause of death for pregnant
women (nationwide) ... And a significant portion of
homicides, of course, are men killing their intimate
partners."
A study by Judith
McFarlane, a professor at Texas Woman's University,
also found homicide was the leading cause of death
among pregnant women.
"Pregnancy puts you at
higher risk of being murdered, especially if you are
abused while you are pregnant," McFarlane said.
"Men's abuse of women has to do with power and
control issues. Abuse can happen when a woman is
pregnant, but it always has to do with power and
control issues."
Lee said men feel they
have the right to dominate their partners, and when
they lose this power in the relationship they
sometimes resort to violence.
"We need to put out
messages in our society that domestic violence is a
crime and we need to better teach boys about how to
treat women and girls with respect," Lee said.
Troy Anderson, (213)
974-8985
troy.anderson@dailynews.com
Stopping the Violence at Home
From a private to a public problem
by
Antoinette Brinkman | Aug 15 '04
Public interest in
domestic violence waxes and wanes with the
headlines. The case of Hedda Nussbaum, the battered
woman who witnessed the killing of her six-year-old
adopted daughter, Lisa, by their common abuser in
1987, drew national attention that peaked with the
1994 brutal murder of Nicole Brown Simpson.
The tenth anniversary
of Nicole's death and the recent release of Lisa's
killer, Joel Steinberg, has brought renewed concern.
Yet, coping with the devastating consequences of
this major social and public health problem will be
left to government social agencies and nonprofit
groups with limited resources.
Also called "family
violence," the concept of "domestic violence"
encompasses various forms of abusive behavior
against any member in a domestic relationship.
Levels of abuse range from the verbal and
psychological to extreme physical violence,
including murder. Owing to space limitations, this
article will concentrate on intimate partner
violence (this term applies to gay/lesbian couples
as well), although the voluminous literature of
child abuse deserves its own review, and elder abuse
is emerging as an important area of study.
From a private to a
public problem
According to the
National Council on Child Abuse and Family Violence,
women are five times more likely than men to be
victims; indeed, domestic violence is the leading
cause of injury to women aged 15–44 in the United
States. In the past, society's traditional response
was to treat the behavior as a private family
matter. But in the 1970s the women's movement and
the groundbreaking work of researcher/author Leonore
Walker, who pioneered the concept of the "battered
woman syndrome," began to change societal attitudes.
In addition, new
research that conceptualized domestic violence as an
issue of power and control rooted in the abuser
himself forced the justice system to respond to the
problem as a criminal issue. The 1994 passage of the
Federal Violence Against Women Act paved the way for
changes in laws, provisions for victim restitution,
grant money for special programs, and other forms of
assistance to local organizations combating violence
against women.
How libraries can help
By developing a
collection on this issue, libraries can play an
important—and even lifesaving—role in empowering
abused women, providing useful resources for
shelters and other agencies, and enlightening
students and the general public about domestic
violence.
Although no one
publisher dominates this field, several smaller
presses—Hunter House, Seal Press, and Volcano—have
issued notable contributions by such major authors
in the field as Michael Paymar, Ginny NiCarthy, and
Elaine Weiss. The more academic Sage publishes the
19-volume "Sage Series of Violence Against Women" as
well as periodicals on this topic. For university
and larger public library collections, there is also
the scholarly (and expensive) Journal of Family
Violence (www.kluweronline.com
).
Government and
nonprofit web sites are particularly useful for
statistics, educational materials, and helpline
information. In the area of community intervention
and remediation, the acknowledged leader is the
Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, or DAIP
(www.duluth-model.org ) which provides educational
materials and training resources in multiple
formats.
Don't discard the old
Because this is still a
relatively young topic of social concern, many of
the earliest works (published in the late 1970s and
early 1980s) are still in print or have been
updated. For a good overview of older titles, see
Pamela A. Kress's "Living with the Enemy," LJ
8/94, p. 106–107.
Starred [*] items below
belong in a core collection in most public
libraries.
Overview
*BERRY, DAWN
BRADLEY. The Domestic Violence Sourcebook. 3d
ed. Lowell House, dist. by Contemporary. 2000. 332p.
bibliog. index. ISBN 0-7373-0419-7. pap. $17.95.
Combining current
research findings on the legal, social, historical,
and psychological aspects of domestic violence, this
comprehensive handbook also includes strategic
advice (i.e., tips for escaping a violent situation,
getting a restraining order). Useful for both
victims and professionals.
SCHNEIDER, ELIZABETH
M. Battered Women and Feminist Lawmaking. Yale
Univ. 2000. 317p. bibliog. index. ISBN
0-300-08343-2. $42.50; pap. 2002. ISBN
0-300-09411-6. $19.
Tracing domestic
violence's legislative history since the 1960s, law
professor Schneider astutely examines the
shortcomings of that process; these include an
acceptance of the view of "battered women" as
mentally ill and society's failure to link domestic
violence to related issues like unemployment and
homelessness. Valuable for students and
policymakers. ( LJ 11/1/00)
Assessment & Recovery
*BANCROFT, LUNDY.
Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry &
Controlling Men. Putnam. 2002. 408p. bibliog.
index. ISBN 0-399-14844-2. $26.95; pap. Berkley.
2003. ISBN 0-425-19165-6. $14.
Having worked with
abusive men for 15 years, Bancroft explains clearly
what causes such behavior, describes the nine
abusive personality types (from verbal abuser to
batterer), and outlines the "warning signs." ( LJ
8/02)
*DUGAN, MEG KENNEDY
& ROGER HOCK. It's My Life Now: Starting Over After
an Abusive Relationship or Domestic Violence.
Routledge. 2000. 255p. bibliog. index. ISBN
0-415-92358-1. pap. $15.95.
For women who have left
abusive relationships, this authoritative yet
reassuring self-help guide explains postbreakup
psychology, including stages of grief and effects on
children, and offers advice on forging ahead.
JACOBSON, NEIL S. &
JOHN M. GOTTMAN. When Men Batter Women: New Insights
into Ending Abusive Relationships. S. & S. 1998.
304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-684-81447-1. $25.
Spanning several years
and involving 200 couples, this classic study offers
valuable insights into abuser psychology. Most
batterers, it found, fall into two categories: pit
bulls and cobras.
*JAYNE, PAMELA.
Ditch That Jerk: Dealing with Men Who Control and
Hurt Women. Hunter House. 2000. 226p. bibliog.
index. ISBN 0-89793-283-8. pap. $14.95.
Authored by an
experienced counselor, this wise, compassionate
guide focuses on two key issues: how to tell if
someone is a potential abuser and whether that
person is likely to change. Case studies, "warning
signs," and chapter summaries framed as "jerk tests"
add to the volume's usefulness.
*NELSON, NOELLE.
Dangerous Relationships: How To Identify and Respond
to the Seven Warning Signs of a Troubled
Relationship. Perseus. 2001. 312p. bibliog.
index. ISBN 0-7382-0465-X. pap. $15.
This keenly insightful
book by a clinical psychologist specifies seven
"warning signs" that have been shown to predict
violent behavior in a spouse/partner. Required
reading for anyone who senses that something is awry
in a relationship.
*NiCARTHY, GINNY.
Getting Free: You Can End Abuse and Take Back Your
Life. Seal: Avalon. 1997. 316p. ISBN
1-878067-92-3. pap. $16.95.
First published in
1982, this still indispensable guide clearly
outlines topics so readers can easily find advice on
specific issues like the pros and cons of moving
into a shelter. [In October, Seal will release a new
paperback edition: ISBN 1-58005-122-7. $16.95.—Ed.]
Intervention &
Remediation
*BREWSTER, SUSAN. To
Be an Anchor in the Storm: A Guide for Families and
Friends of Abused Women. 2d ed. Seal: Avalon.
2000. 245p. ISBN 1-58005-037-9. pap. $12.95.
Brewster, herself a
survivor of domestic violence, outlines how any
caring person can assist a battered woman. The goal
is to form a strong emotional connection that will
support the woman in making decisions on her own
terms.
*PAYMAR, MICHAEL.
Violent No More: Helping Men End Domestic Abuse.
2d rev. ed. Hunter House. 1999. 285p. bibliog.
index. ISBN 0-89793-268-4. pap. $17.95.
Although recidivism is
high, this important and influential book by a
veteran abuse counselor offers hope by suggesting
what works best in ending the violent behavior of
abusive men. The text includes exercises, a
distillation of current research findings, and
follow-up interviews with couples who appeared in an
earlier DAIP study.
*WEISS, ELAINE.
Family and Friends' Guide to Domestic Violence: How
To Listen, Talk, and Take Action When Someone You
Care About Is Being Abused. Volcano. 2003. 143p.
bibliog. ISBN 1-884244-22-X. pap. $17.95.
From the author of
Surviving Domestic Violence (see below) comes an
authoritative guide for family and friends, with
practical tips for communicating with a likely
victim of abuse, including how to broach the
subject.
Specific Populations
Same-Sex Domestic
Violence: Strategies for Change. Sage. (Series
on Violence Against Women). 1999. 259p. ed. by Beth
Leventhal & Sandra E. Lundy. index. ISBN
0-7619-0322-4. $96.95; pap. ISBN 0-7619-0323-2.
$43.95.
Activists and
professionals who are also abuse survivors address
the unique characteristics of same-sex violence and
argue for improved assessment and service delivery
for gays and lesbians.
*WEITZMAN, SUSAN.
"Not to People Like Us": Hidden Abuse in Upscale
Marriages. Basic Bks: Perseus. 2001. 287p.
bibliog. index. ISBN 0-465-09074-5. pap. $15.
Drawing on her own
research with 14 women aged 24–62, psychotherapist
Weitzman exposes abuse among the wealthy. She
profiles seemingly unlikely abusers and shows how
traditional helping institutions often trivialize
this problem and fail its often-misunderstood
victims.
*WHITE, EVELYN C.
Chain, Chain, Change: For Black Women in Abusive
Relationships. 2d ed. Seal: Avalon. 1995. 120p.
ISBN 1-878067-60-5. pap. $12.95.
Filling a gap in the
literature, the editor of The Black Women's
Health Book addresses the effects of abuse on
the African American family and how black women can
obtain help. She also discusses the influence of
racism and sexism, and a new chapter covers the
experience of black lesbians.
History & Memoir
*ANDERSON, VERA. A
Woman Like You: The Face of Domestic Violence.
Seal: Avalon. 1997. 70p. photogs. bibliog. ISBN
1-878067-07-9. pap. $16.
Anderson's striking,
black-and-white photo-essays profiling 35
victim/survivors effectively convey her message that
domestic violence is an "equal opportunity" crime.
*FOWLER, CONNIE MAY.
When Katie Wakes: A Memoir. Ballantine. 2003.
304p. ISBN 0-345-44454-X. pap. $13.95.
This stark and stunning
memoir by novelist Fowler ( Before Women Had
Wings ) recounts her horribly abusive and
financially draining relationship with an older man.
( LJ 12/01)
*WEISS, ELAINE.
Surviving Domestic Violence: Voice of Women Who
Broke Free. rev. ed. Volcano. 2004. 214p.
bibliog. ISBN 1-884244-27-0. pap. $17.95.
Weiss eloquently tells
the tragic yet inspiring stories of 12 survivors,
ranging in age and socioeconomic circumstances. She
concludes each case study with a reflective
commentary that emphasizes the strength and courage
of these women.
*WELDON, MICHELE. I
Closed My Eyes: Revelations of a Battered Woman.
Hazelden. 1999. 262p. ISBN 1-56838-341-X. pap. $15.
Journalist Weldon's
gripping account of her marriage to an abusive
Jekyll/Hyde character and the postsplit aftermath in
which she struggled to rebuild her life with her
three sons helps shatter the myth that partner abuse
is limited to lower-class families. She also
supplies unusual insight into the complex and
sometimes puzzling thought processes of victims. (
LJ 9/15/99)
Parenting Issues
*BANCROFT, LUNDY.
When Dad Hurts Mom: Helping Your Children Heal the
Wounds of Witnessing Abuse. Putnam. 2004. 384p.
index. ISBN 0-399-15110-9. $25.95.
The author of Why
Does He Do That? (see above) counsels battered
mothers on how to rebuild their lives and heal the
damage done to their victimized children. Especially
notable are suggestions for repairing the
mother/child relationship and valuable and shrewd
advice on dealing with abusive fathers and the
social institutions that impact their lives. ( LJ
4/1/04).
*DALPIAZ, CHRISTINA.
Breaking Free, Starting Over: Parenting in the
Aftermath of Family Violence. Praeger. 2004.
232p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-275-98167-3. $39.95.
This no-nonsense, if
sometimes dogmatic, guide by a certified Victims'
Advocate provides helpful techniques for reparenting
children who've been exposed to domestic violence.
Lacking a safe haven, many of these children exhibit
significant behavior, communication, and
self-management problems.
*GADDIS, PATRICIA
RIDDLE. Dangerous Dating: Helping Young Women Break
Out of Abusive Relationships. Waterbrook:
Random. 2000. 138p. bibliog. ISBN 0-87788-713-6.
pap. $11.99.
Gaddis, a certified
crisis-intervention worker and author of Battered
but Not Broken: Help for Abused Wives and Their
Church Families , offers straightforward advice
on rescuing daughters enmeshed in destructive
relationships. An invaluable resource, given the
problematic nature of many parent-teen
relationships.
Videos
Profile of an
Assailant. color. 42 min. National Training
Project, 202 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802;
218-722-2781; www.duluth-model.org . $125.
Directed at community
programs for batterers and survivors, this video
presents an interview with a former offender
followed by six former victims discussing the
characteristics of their abusers.
Small Justice:
Little Justice in America's Family Courts.
color. 60 min. Intermedia, 1165 Eastlake Ave E.,
Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98109; 800-553-8336;
www.intermedia-inc.com . $189.
This powerful,
award-winning documentary shows how family courts
often award children to a parent abuser.
Web Sites
Family Violence
Prevention Fund www.endabuse.org .
Dedicated to preventing
domestic violence through educational programs, the
FVPF tracks the latest news and research in the
field; it also includes useful fact sheets, personal
stories, and links to related sites.
National Domestic
Violence Hotline www.ndvh.org
Staffed by trained
bilingual (Spanish and English) counselors, this
national helpline also offers information on
shelters, legal assistance, and educational topics.
The Nicole Brown
Simpson Charitable Foundation ; www.nbcf.org
Invaluable information
about domestic violence including early warning
signs (in English and Spanish) and useful links to
state coalitions and local resources.
Antoinette Brinkman
(MLS; MS, sociology) has had dual careers in
libraries and in social services. Currently working
as a social worker for the state of Indiana,
Division of Family and Children, in Evansville, she
also reviews psychology and social science titles
for LJ
Los Angeles Daily News
LAPD
gets a different viewpoint
Corina Alarcon joins panel
By James Nash
Staff Writer
Saturday, June 19, 2004 -
Corina Alarcon has a knack for turning hardships
into opportunities. After enduring an abusive
relationship as a teenager, Alarcon emerged as an
advocate for battered women and now runs the
nation's largest domestic abuse shelter in the
country. After her high-profile divorce from state
Sen. Richard Alarcon in 1999, she stepped out from
behind the shadow of one of the San Fernando
Valley's most powerful politicians to become a
community leader in her own right.
Now Corina Alarcon is taking on one of her biggest
and most public responsibilities as the newest
member of the Los Angeles Police Commission. "I hope
to bring a whole different perspective to the
commission -- that of the community, that of a
former business owner," said Alarcon, 47, who ran an
insurance office before founding Women Advancing the
Valley through Education, Economics and Empowerment,
which operates a shelter for battered women in
Sylmar.
Much in Alarcon's biography suggests that she is
ready to serve on Los Angeles' highest-profile
commission, say her supporters. She previously
served on the Building and Safety commissions and as
president of the Fire Commission, charged with
overseeing the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Council President Alex Padilla said Alarcon's life
experience makes her uniquely qualified for the
police panel. She and Padilla briefly challenged
each other for the Northeast Valley City Council
seat formerly held by Richard Alarcon before she
withdrew from the race, which Padilla ultimately
won.
"The thing that struck me at the time was not that
she was the then-councilman's wife, it was her work
with WAVE and domestic violence," Padilla said.
"When you look at domestic violence, it's not
something that's academic. It's something that is
very real to her."
LAPD statistics show that domestic violence is among
the most prevalent crimes in Los Angeles, although
the numbers are declining. Nearly 4,700 incidents of
domestic violence were reported to the LAPD through
May, down 12.8 percent from 2003 levels.
Corina Alarcon said the LAPD needs to continue
efforts to reduce domestic violence through both
prevention and response. She also believes the
department needs more bilingual officers, noting
that she was asked to translate during a ride-along
with LAPD officers two years ago, when a
Spanish-speaking woman called to say she was raped
and beaten.
She said she's been impressed with LAPD Chief
William Bratton since he took office in October
2002, and endorses his commitment to fighting
hard-core gangs. "We all want to live in safe
neighborhoods," she said. "Having hard-core gang
members driving around and shooting each other and
degrading property with graffiti takes away from
that."
Alarcon said she questioned the LAPD policy of
curtailing responses to burglar alarms. As a single
mother, Alarcon said, she would expect police to
respond to an alarm at her Sylmar house, although
she said she's withholding judgment on the policy.
Alarcon said she is troubled by reports that the
LAPD is falling short in complying with the federal
consent decree imposed in the wake of the Rampart
scandal, which costs $30 million to $50 million a
year to enforce.
Alarcon joins Alan Skobin, a Chatsworth resident and
attorney for the Galpin Ford dealership in North
Hills, as the San Fernando Valley residents on the
commission. "A lot of it is simply focus," Skobin
said. "When you live in the Valley, work in the
Valley and largely shop in the Valley and drive the
Valley streets every day, you get a sense of what
the needs are."
Alarcon opposed the 2002 Valley secession campaign
-- "I'm just so proud to be a part of Los Angeles"
-- but said she sympathizes with arguments for more
police north of Mulholland Drive.
The dilemma, she said, is how to make that happen.
"The budget is just not there," Alarcon said. "I
think we can have more community involvement and
just have more trust in what the Police Department
can do when they work with the community."
James Nash, (213) 978-0390
james.nash@dailynews.com
Live
In
PeaceSM
(L.I.P.SM) is a
service of the belief that beauty has depth and shows at the surface...
LiveInPeace.info
promotes understanding and encourages harmony in the world
by providing resources for essential life skills: tools for managing one's self, for
negotiating through conflict, for respecting others and
for commanding respect by exemplary behavior.
|
