This book maps the problems and possibilities of the policies and practices designed to tackle violence against women in the domestic sphere over the last 40 years. In 2018, the United Nations declared the home the most dangerous place for women around the word, and in early April 2020, the United Nations Population Fund predicted that for every three months that government-enforced lockdowns in response to coronavirus an additional 15 million cases of domestic violence would occur worldwide. This book asks the simple yet critical question: how can governments best ensure women’s safety in the twenty-first century?

Taking its title from Elizabeth Wilson’s 1983 book and her three-level approach of considering the role of social policy, the law and ideology, Fitz-Gibbon and Walklate draw on their expertise of femicide, domestic abuse and family violence to examine the salience of global and local policy and practice responses to such violence(s), and to ask timely questions about the ongoing value of the recourse to the criminal law for twenty-first century policy. Comparative in orientation, appreciative of the importance of geographical and social context, and committed to understanding the historical processes that continue to frame policy responses, this book takes a long hard look at what has and has not been achieved in relation to domestic abuse and family violence and seeks to challenge all that has come to be taken for granted in responding to such violence(s).

Published in the 40th Anniversary of Elizabeth Wilson’s ground-breaking contribution, this book is destined to become a classic in its own right. It is essential reading for all those engaged in feminist criminology, gender and crime, family and domestic violence, and violence against women.

"The authors take as their mission to explore and write the post 1983 version of Elizabeth Wilson’s book of the same name. Fitz-Gibbon and Walklate’s book challenges many of the policies and practices that have become standard response to violence against women and children, in Australia and internationally, over the past 40 years. The criminalisation of violence particularly is a major focus. Much was promised from this policy change, but the authors argue it has not delivered the hoped for outcomes. The criminalisation response if supported by an integrated policy response. the authors posit, has a much better chance of success.
The book is well researched, very readable and groundbreaking, it challenges the validity of current thinking – just what we need. Congratulations to the authors!"
Professor Christine Nixon AO. APM. Victoria Police, Chief Commissioner 2001–2009

Kate Fitz-Gibbon is Professor of Social Sciences at Monash University, Australia.

Sandra Walklate is Professor and Eleanor Rathbone Chair of Sociology at the University of Liverpool, UK.