Violent Partners: A Breakthrough Plan for Ending the Cycle of Abuse

Source: (2008) NY, USA: Basic Books, A member of the Perseus Books Group.

“Most of us are aware that millions of women struggle with domestic violence. But Linda Mills — feminist, scholar, activist, and survivor — challenges the prevailing orthodoxies surrounding this problem. Although crime statistics and the media have led us to believe that men are almost always the perpetrators of intimate abuse, and women the victims, Violent Partners uncovers a far more complex story in which both partners often participate in a dynamic of abuse. Mills does not excuse violence, nor does she encourage those who are experiencing abuse to stay with the partners who are hurting them. Yet many of the couples who share their stories and family histories in Violent Partners do not want to end their relationships — instead, they are looking for resources that will help them stop the abuse. … As an alternative, Mills develops a response that engages and treats everyone caught up in the violent dynamic. Through such programs as Violence Anonymous, a 12-step program for both victims and perpetrators, and her own Peacemaking and Healing Circles, which bring the whole family together for treatment, Mills argues for a comprehensive approach to violence prevention that encourages people to overcome their shame and get the help they need. Essential reading for therapists, family members, couples, public health experts, lawmakers, and members of the criminal justice system, Violent Partners provides a breakthrough plan for ending the cycle of abuse.” (Editor’s note)