ABSTRACT
Effective action in any social sphere is impossible without an adequate understanding of the nature and extent of the problem. Chapter 1 analyses the terminology of domestic abuse and the record of social work in this field, whilst firmly establishing the fact that the greatest amount of violence is inflicted by men on women. Gay and lesbian relationships are referred to, but the main concentration is on abuse within heterosexual relationships. Chapter 2 explores information on the incidence and theories of the causation of domestic violence. In so doing, it exposes common myths-that drink causes domestic violence, that women seek or provoke the violence, and so on-which have percolated into social work practice. It seeks to replace the myths with the actual stories of women’s lived experience. The common themes that emerge-for example that men must take responsibility for their abusive behaviour and that women must be heard, believed and empowered-constitute the strongest evidence on which to base appropriate professional intervention. Social workers need, too, to understand the complexities of women’s attempts to escape: the use by male partners of all forms of abuse to prevent this; the interaction between the emotional impact of the abuse and the difficulty of negotiating the maze of legal and welfare services; above all, the crucial need for advocacy, self-help and support services to empower women through this process on their own terms.
