Cover

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 - For Batter or For Worse

Introduction

For Batter

The Magnitude of Rural Woman Battering

Woman Battering and Rural Isolation

Physical Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Emotional Abuse

Resistance

Or For Worse: Patriarchy and Pine Boxes

Murder

Murder-Suicide

Conclusion

Chapter 2 - Rural Patriarchy, Crime, and Criminal Justice

Introduction

Defining "Rural"

Demographic Factors

The Rural Economy and the Division of Labor

Sociocultural Considerations

Regional Diversity in the Primarily Rural State of Kentucky

Rural Patriarchy

The Concept of Patriarchy

The Concept of Rural Patriarchy

Crime and Criminal Justice in Rural Communities

Crime in Rural Areas

Sociological Explanations of the Low Levels of Rural Crime

Criminal Justice in Rural Communities

Conclusion

Chapter 3 - Woman Battering and Criminal Justice

Introduction

Woman Battering

The Historical and Political Construction of Domestic Violence

The Struggle Over Terminology

The Nature of Woman Battering

Rural Woman Battering

The Criminal Justice Response to Woman Battering

Policing

Courts

Conclusion

Chapter 4 - Policing Rural Woman Battering: The Compromised Enforcement of Law

Introduction

The Components of Compromised Policing

Patriarchal Attitudes

The Ol' Boys Network

Patronage Politics and the Rural Compromise

The Low Tax Base and Compromised Policing

Remote Rural Locations: Delayed Protection

No Phone

Rural Police Serving EPOs by Telephone

Informants

Police Corruption and Compromised Law Enforcement

Conclusion

Chapter 5 - Courting Revictimization: The Courts and Rural Woman Battering

Introduction

Rural Courts and Woman Battering in Kentucky

Negotiating The Rural Courts

Revictimization From The Bench

Women's Perceptions of Rural Judges

Judicial Rudeness

Sentencing Conflictual Families to Church

The Judicial Failure to Appreciate the Difficulties Faced by Battered Women

Knowing the Abuser

Conclusion

Chapter 6 - Regulating Rural Women: The Patriarchal State

Introduction: The State and Social Conflict

Rural Woman Battering and The Patriarchal State

Transportation

Health Care

Social Services

Lack of Child Care Services

Religion as Patriarchal Ideology

Formal Politics

Rural Spouse Abuse Shelters

Divorce

Conclusion

Chapter 7 - Rural Battering and Social Policies

Introduction

The Role of Community Responses to Rural Woman Battering

Rural Battering and Recent Federal Legislation

Extant Social Policies and The Need for Change

Law Enforcement

The Judiciary

Criminal Justice Foci: Illegal Drugs or Battering?

Shelters or Outreach?

Health Care

Social Services

Legal Representation

Child Welfare

Provision of Child Care

Churches

The State and Women's Employment

Improving Rural Communications

The Media

Education

Fatality Review Teams

Conclusion: Battering, The Patriarchal State, and Rural Communities

Appendix 1: Methodological Considerations

The Ethnographer as Invader

Research Concerning Men Interviewing Women

My Conversations With Battered Women

Conversations With Other "Others"

Observation

Participant Observation

Appendix 2: Regional Map of Kentucky

References

Index

About The Author