From making love to doing math, gender roles affect us in everything we do. The differences between men and women, though they have always existed, have never been fully accepted or understood. For centuries, human development has been hampered by restrictive definitions of masculinity and femininity. In this sensitive and penetrating analysis, Dr Greenglass examines gender roles from a feminist perspective, probing their origins and revealing their social and psychological implications.

Women, Violence and Social Change demonstrates how refuges and shelters stand as the core of the battered women's movement, providing a basis for pragmatic support, political action and radical renewal. From this base movements in Britain and the United States have challenged the police, courts and social services to provide greater assistance to women. The book provides important evidence on the way social movements can successfully challenge institutions of the State as well as salutatory lessons on the nature of diverted and thwarted struggle. Throughout the book the Dobashes' years of researching violence against women is illustrated in the depth of their analysis. They maintain the tradition established in their first book, Violence Against Wives, which was widely accalimed.

A groundbreaking examination of the history of American women offers unique perspectives on the differences between the rights and obligations of citizens, arguing that women's obligations have not kept pace with their rights. 10,000 first printing. Tour.