Feeling Trapped: Social Class and Violence against Women

James Ptacek's research investigates how social class shapes women's experiences of violence and the responses of their communities, highlighting the link between private violence and public responses and social inequalities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

The intricate connection between class and intimate violence against women is often misconstrued. While numerous studies on intimate violence primarily concentrate on marginalized and working-class women, there is a scarcity of research that comparatively analyzes the issue in terms of class privilege and disadvantage. In his groundbreaking work, James Ptacek delves into in-depth interviews with sixty women from diverse backgrounds, including affluent, professional, working-class, and impoverished communities. Through these interviews, Ptacek explores how social class intricately shapes both women's experiences of violence and the responses of their communities to this violence.

Ptacek's innovative framing of women's victimization as social entrapment establishes a profound connection between private acts of violence and the broader societal responses to them. He also highlights the interconnectedness of social inequalities with the challenges that women face. By examining the experiences of women from different social classes, Ptacek sheds light on the complex dynamics that contribute to intimate violence and its impact on individuals and communities.

This research contributes to our understanding of the multifaceted nature of intimate violence and emphasizes the need for comprehensive approaches that address the intersectionality of social factors. It underscores the importance of recognizing and challenging class-based biases and stereotypes that perpetuate violence and hinder efforts to prevent and respond to it. By promoting equity and social justice, we can work towards creating a world where all women can live free from the fear and oppression of intimate violence.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 234 x 157 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520381605