Violence against women is a growing problem. With examples from Denmark, France, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the contributors to this volume explore how violence is framed through language and what this means for research and policy. They look at how metaphors in police homicide reports obscure domestic violence, how abstract language conveys stereotypes without anybody noticing, and how Western authorities have struggled to understand crimes in the name of honor. Language shapes responses to abuse and approaches to perpetrators and interfaces with national debates about gender, violence, and social change.

Family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors are often the first to know that a woman has been abused by an intimate male partner. What is the proper course of action for those with knowledge of abuse? Using a wide range of empirical data from international sources, Renate Klein documents informal third parties as the first port of call, sources of support and interference, and gatekeepers to formal services. Family and social network members disrupt ongoing assaults, respond to disclosures of abuse and provide solace and practical help. These networks do not always side with victims, however, and may either sympathize with or actively support perpetrators. Klein illuminates the complexities of these contingent situations. Her analysis highlights the potential of informal third parties for effective intervention, demonstrating their significant role in promoting societies free from rape and domestic violence.

Since the late 60's radical feminists have laboured to articulate a vision of the world in which all women would be safe, and all women acknowledged as human beings in their own right. Their projects included establishing women's refuges, rape crisis centres, health centres, organizing against pornography and developing courses in Women's Studies. Their practice and the theory of radical feminism is often misrepresented or unknown. This book features 70 writers from every continent discussing their ideas and practice of contemporary feminism.

In the tradition of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'. Imagination, vision and a sense of the absurd come together and demonstrate that women can resist the power of god-like scientists who long to create monsters and angels. With contributions by writers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA. This book should head the reading list of any course in ethics and reproductive technology.

Family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors are often the first to know that a woman has been abused by an intimate male partner. What is the proper course of action for those with knowledge of abuse? Using a wide range of empirical data from international sources, Renate Klein documents informal third parties as the first port of call, sources of support and interference, and gatekeepers to formal services. Family and social network members disrupt ongoing assaults, respond to disclosures of abuse and provide solace and practical help. These networks do not always side with victims, however, and may either sympathize with or actively support perpetrators. Klein illuminates the complexities of these contingent situations. Her analysis highlights the potential of informal third parties for effective intervention, demonstrating their significant role in promoting societies free from rape and domestic violence.

With examples from throughout Europe and the United States, the contributors to this volume explore how gender violence is framed through language and what this means for research and policy. Language shapes responses to abuse and approaches to perpetrators and interfaces with national debates about gender, violence, and social change.

Are diamonds really a girl's best friend? We don't think so, and neither will you after a look at this beautifully illustrated book. With contributions about what their dogs mean to them, over eighty women and girls from diverse backgrounds, ages and countries, share their feelings and experiences of living with dogs today. Not just autobiography, but stories, poetry and photographs. Family dogs, lost dogs, terriers to labradors, each one holding a special place in a woman's heart all over the world. This touching collection is a must for every dog lover.

Around the world thousands of couples and singles procure babies through surrogacy arrangements. Many people see surrogacy as driven by compassion for those who desire a baby. But where is the compassion for the 'surrogate' mothers and their babies? Who are the faceless, nameless women who grow the babies in their bodies and give birth to them? Women who are left with empty arms and leaking breasts after delivery? The surrogacy industry calls them special angels who make miracles possible, giving an extraordinary gift. IVF clinics call them gestational surrogates. The intended parents have promised healthcare, full reimbursement of costs, extra income and ongoing contact with the baby. What could possibly go wrong? Everything. Because surrogacy violates the human rights of the women whose bodies are used, and the rights of children who are traded as commodities. Because it is a fundamentally flawed and misogynist concept to imagine that women are interchangeable. And it is wishful thinking that regulation can fix this. All surrogacy needs to be stopped. In this book, strong and courageous women from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Romania, Hungary, Georgia and Russia share their stories of becoming 'surrogate' mothers and egg 'donors'. Their accounts are tragic, shocking, and reveal a profit-driven industry that preys on desperation and womens kindness.

Horses inhabit our dreams, carrying us to safety or on wild adventures. Some of our dream horses fly, others have magical powers. Whatever our dreams of horses might be, they inhabit a universe of freedom and power. They also involve a lot of work, care and sacrifice. Horses and riders achieve great heights, some in jumping, some in dressage, some on endurance rides.;This anthology explores the meaning of horses -- and some donkeys -- in the lives of women from many places. They walk, trot, canter, gallop and fly. And some refuse to budge. Horses inspire boldness and trust and provide us with the means to be transported into other realms, to fulfil our girldreams, our horsedreams.

What do animals mean in the life of humans? This is an increasingly asked question, especially when so many households own at least one pet. Studies abound which demonstrate that pets can save lives or at least sanity, and that people can grieve more for their lost pet than the loss of human companionship. It is interesting then to hear about some of these experiences, and to try to understand in more depth how our furry friends weave themselves inextricably into our homes, our lives, and our existence. This special volume, on the meaning of cats in women's lives, is the second in a series of collections on what companion animals mean to women around the globe. The book includes pieces from women from several different countries, and of different ages and cultural backgrounds. The types of pieces included reflect this diversity. We have funny, sad and clever pieces. We have pieces that address the political and socially serious side of having cats as pets. We have pieces that reflect the sometime silliness of domestic life with cats. We have poems, short stories, reflections and essays. What has emerged is a clear picture of the different relationships women might have with a feline companion, simply because of the distinctive characteristics of cats as animals, and cats as individuals. They enrich in different ways simply because they are not humans, they are not dogs, birds, horses or monkeys. Cats mean distinctive things to different women. What is the nature of this relationship and meaning? Some tried to describe it by differentiating the characteristics of cats from those of dogs. The saying' "Dogs have masters, cats have staff" was quoted several times. Another idea was that of the cat as 'familiar', alluding to an almost mystical relationship with a creature who is only part of the human world. The naming of cats, and the special task of creating the name which would capture the magnificent, regal and independent character of that woman's own cat, was also a notable thread in many stories. Contributors include UK authors, poets, academics, activists, artists and politicians alike, such as: Barbara Becker, Claire Pickard, Nancy Winters, Sal Hampson, Suniti Namjoshi from Bradford, Oxford, Devon, and London; other contributors include Marge Piercy (USA), Fide Erkin (Turkey) Finola Geraghty (Germany), Beryl Fletcher (New Zealand), Liselotte Lassig (Switzerland), Beth Burrows (Canada), Kerry Greenwood, Lin van Hek, Sandy Jeffs, Patricia Sykes, Coral Hull, and Susan Hawthorne (Australia).

An international anthology by feminists working in the field of electronic publishing, electronic activism, electronic data delivery, multimedia production, virtual reality creation, developing programs or products electronically, as well as those developing critiques of electronic culture. This collection explores what the possibilities are for feminists and for feminism. It also grapples with the pitfalls of the medium. The book, however, does not assume that the technology in itself is negative, but rather how it is used is open to critique. This leaves open the possibility of feminists having an impact on the way the technologies develop. The book includes connecting HTML with poetry, developing resources for Women's Studies and libraries, on-line, CD-ROM and VRML developments. The book has markets across trade and educational sectors and could be used at secondary and tertiary levels.