Law is the Answer? Do We Know that for Sure? Questioning the Efficacy of Legal Interventions for Battered Women

Abstract

This article looks critically at the development of a legal system dedicated to addressing domestic violence and asks whether that system truly benefits battered women. The article examines the legal interventions most frequently employed by battered women and their advocates and details the problems faced by battered women as a result of reliance on these strategies. The article cautions lawyers working with battered women to counsel their clients carefully about the variety of problems the legal system can create for battered women and urges policy makers, lawyers and advocates to think beyond the legal system to address domestic violence.

Keywords: women, domestic violence, legal system