This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Rothenberg, B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

"We Don't have Time for Social Change"

Cultural Compromise and the Battered Woman Syndrome

Clemson University

This article explores how the acceptance of the battered woman syndrome as the explanation for why abusive relationships continue can be understood as a cultural compromise. The syndrome's portrayal of battered women as passive victims resulted in an exclusive definition of who "counts" as a victim. It further emphasized many abused women's weaknesses rather than their resourcefulness and overlooked the plights of a great variety of women in need of help. More important, it placed emphasis on individualized solutions for domestic violence rather than addressing structural inequalities in American society. These issues ultimately led to a critique by other advocates of the battered woman syndrome as an inadequate and flawed explanation for domestic violence. Yet despite its weaknesses, the syndrome allowed advocates the chance to appeal to the larger public and, ultimately, begin the process of alleviating structural inequalities.

Key Words: domestic violence • battered women's movement • battered woman syndrome • Lenore Walker • cultural compromise

Gender & Society, Vol. 17, No. 5, 771-787 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0891243203255633


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Miller A Specification of the Types of Intimate Partner Violence Experienced by Women in the General Population Violence Against Women, December 1, 2006; 12(12): 1105 - 1131. [Abstract] [PDF]