Why Don't You Just Talk to Him?

The Politics of Domestic Abuse

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Government, Social Policy, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Political
Cover of the book Why Don't You Just Talk to Him? by Kathleen R. Arnold, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kathleen R. Arnold ISBN: 9780190463878
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: September 1, 2015
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Kathleen R. Arnold
ISBN: 9780190463878
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: September 1, 2015
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

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.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

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.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Human Motivation by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book The Mightie Frame by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Cultural Awareness - Resource Books for Teachers by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book The Children's Music Studio by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book A Midsummer Night's Dream Level 3 Oxford Bookworms Library by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Susan Glaspell by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Aging in Canada by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Waging Peace by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book The Hebrew Bible as Literature: A Very Short Introduction by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Writing the Rapture by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Groundbreakers by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Focus on Grammar and Meaning by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Identifying the Mind by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book Wrestling the Angel by Kathleen R. Arnold
Cover of the book The Iowa State Constitution by Kathleen R. Arnold
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy