Publisher's Synopsis
Domestic violence is now in the public arena to an extent that has rarely been seen before. In the post-war period to 1970, however, the issue was shrouded in silence. This study begins the process of breaking that silence. Based on a series of interviews with women who experienced domestic violence during this time, it is a moving and powerful account of the hardship and pain they endured, often for many years and with little or no support, either personally or from agencies and the state. The study situates women's experiences of domestic violence in the context of post-war social policy and welfare developments, and of prevailing ideas and ideologies about women and the family. It has relevance for current policy and practice, especially in terms of policy developments which appear to 'turn back the clock'. The study will be of interest to academics, to policy makers and practitioners, to women within the refuge movement, to historians of women and the welfare state, and to all concerned to improve the status of women and to combat domestic violence.
