Mainstream Legal Responses to Domestic Violence vs. Real Needs of Diverse Communities, Conference: Revolutions within Communities: The Fifth Annual Domestic Violence Conference

Abstract

Over the past ten years, there has been tremendous progress in developing programs that address the needs of survivors of intimate partner violence. At the state and federal level, advocates have succeeded in securing funding and political support for survivors. As a result of their efforts, there has been an increase in protective services, and laws have been passed providing criminal and civil remedies for targets of violence. In addition, the public is increasingly aware of intimate partner violence. Several politicians and private institutions have demonstrated a commitment to change society's response to battered women. Despite this progress, current legal remedies and institutional services do not fully respond to the needs of all women. In particular, women who are otherwise marginalized within society remain on the outside with respect to these services and remedies. As members of outsider communities, women of color, immigrant women, disabled women, and poor women continue to face tremendous obstacles accessing services and particularly legal strategies.

Keywords: domestic violence, latino, latina, intimate partner violence, services