Description:
Although Getting Free was written in 1982, it is still called the bible of all domestic violence texts. It's not just the content of the book--twenty-four chapters covering a gamut of issues--but the tone. The problems of and solutions to domestic violence are clearly defined through the voices of women as they share their experiences and carve out their steps toward freedom. Each chapter discusses a different phase in the experience of "getting free" and the problems surrounding each phase. Readers can reach for this book to look up specific domestic abuse issues or they can read it straight through. There is much to learn here--the history of battering as a phenomenon; the political and social aspects of abuse; the historical changes to the institutions of marriage and family, and more. Chapter 4, "What Do You Owe Yourself?," helps women work toward a healthy autonomy and defines what each partner in a relationship deserves. Discussion on the unconscious expectations of marriage and romance segues into practical advice on the economics of single life. When reaching for Getting Free in crisis, readers might begin with Chapter 6, "Making the Decision," or Chapter 14, which argues for and against moving to a shelter. There is wise and compassionate counsel for the loneliness that can ensue from fleeing an abusive relationship. At the time that Getting Free was first published, the more common feeling about domestic abuse was that women brought it on themselves. This landmark book changed that perception, not only bringing a pandemic social problem to light, but also offering a lifeline to thousands of women. It continues to do so.
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