annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

Abstract: This qualitative study investigated the emotional abuse that occurs withoutphysical abuse in the context of heterosexual, committed couple relationships. The thesisexamines the ways in which men abuse women and the impact this has had on sevenwomen’s lives. The author of the study takes a feminist approach and uses the memory-worktechnique. Findings from the study identify that the women believe that their partners sawthemselves as superior to the women and set the standards at home, thereby forcing,expecting, or manipulating women to take a subordinate position in the relationship. Thecovertness of the abuse appeared to have an impact on each woman’s self-esteem. The authorlooks at three forms of control: control by domination, passive control, and manipulativecontrol. The author suggests that this study may help to extend knowledge of emotional abuseby showing that social practices that are accepted as the norm can obscure the emotionalabusiveness of gendered practices.Source: Author’s abstractLaw Commission. (1999). Women’s access to legal services. (NZLC SP 1). Wellington, New Zealand:Author. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/ProjectStudyPapers.aspx?ProjectID=99See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13116.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Sexual abuse, Women, Justice, Protection orders, Careand contact, Legislation, Gender, Social services, Demographics/statistics, IntersectoralcollaborationAbstract: This study paper provides an analysis of women’s access to legal services. Aqualitative methodology was employed to learn more about women’s experiences of thejustice system, and to identify barriers to accessing legal services. This paper discussesnumerous facets pertaining to the interaction of women, legal services, and the justice systemas a whole. Areas specific to family violence include the lack of understanding of the contextof domestic violence, and different legal needs of women due to the influence of partnerabuse. Financial limitations are identified as a significant barrier to securing legal services.The study paper recommends greater interagency coordination between funding bodies, andproducers and distributors of legal information to stop fragmentation and improve access toservices.Law Commission. (2000). Battered defendants: Victims of domestic violence who offend. (NZLC PP41). Wellington, New Zealand: Author. Retrieved December 12, 2005, fromhttp://www.lawcom.govt.nz/ProjectPreliminaryPaper.aspx?ProjectID=80See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12767.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Women, Victims/survivors, Violence against men,Justice, LegislationAbstract: This Law Commission discussion paper stems from criticism that the legalprofession does not adequately understand battering relationships. It examines how existingNew Zealand law applies to those who commit criminal acts in circumstances where they arevictims of domestic violence, in particular, the defences of ‘self-defence’, ‘provocation’,‘duress’ and ‘necessity’. It also considers developments and proposals in other jurisdictions,especially in the cases of the defences of ‘self-preservation’ and ‘diminished responsibility’,and judicial discretion in sentencing. Lastly, it makes proposals for reform. Findings from theconsultation submissions responding to this discussion paper are presented in LawCommission Report No. 73, Some Criminal Defences With Particular Reference to BatteredDefendants released in 2001.102