portant factor in women using alcohol and drugs is prior history of abuse.
Most women and men in prison have witnessed and experienced violence in
their own lives. Men who are exposed to violence learn to use it; women ex-
posed to violence are more likely to be victims, although more are now fight-
ing back. Why is there such a gender difference? Violence exists throughout
our societal institutions, as is described throughout this book. Violence in the
community supports and facilitates the perpetuation of violence for those who
have witnessed or experienced violence in their own homes. It is important to
place the transmission of violence from one generation to another in a social
context rather than deal with individual pathology ( Herman, 1992).

During her lifetime one out of two women will be beaten by a man who
loves her! If the battered woman tries to leave her abuser, she increases the
four-to-one risk that he will kill her. Twenty-five percent of all women will be
sexually assaulted, usually by someone they know. Over one-third of all girls
will be sexually abused by the time they are 18; over 25 percent before age 14.
Ten to twenty-five percent of all boys will also be sexually abused, usually by
a man. The polls show that over 90 percent of all American women have been
sexually harassed on the job. Sexual harassment rates for European countries
approach one-half of all working women. Men's violence against women ap-
pears to be the norm in all countries. Feminist psychology suggests that these
different forms of violence by men against women have the same core: men
who expect to have power and control over women.

Psychologists who work with abused women suggest that many develop a
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of the trauma they have
experienced. Battered Woman Syndrome ( Walker, 1984, 1989a, 1989b, 1991),
Rape Trauma Syndrome ( Burgess & Holmstrom, 1974), and Battered Child
Syndrome ( Walker, 1990) are various subcategories. Any normal person who is
exposed to PTSD would be expected to demonstrate its mental health symptoms.
The predominant symptoms are high arousal and anxiety, high avoidance and
numbing of feelings and depression, and intrusive memories with cognitive dis-
tortions. New psychotherapy techniques have been designed to help women who
were victimized to become survivors ( Walker, 1994). But not all victims need
therapy to become survivors; many need lots of genuine caring and support of
friends and family.

The contributors to this volume put forth many contemporary theoretical ideas
about violence in society. All agree with the editors, Leonore Loeb Adler and
Florence L. Denmark, that finding ways to prevent violence is critical given the
escalating reports of violence around the world. Our studies of family violence
assure us that unless we eliminate sexism, racism, classism, and other forms of
oppression, one group will continue to want power and control over another
group, and some members of that group will condone the use of violence to get
power and keep it. Living in peace means acceptance of diversity. Women and
men must work together to promote a nonviolent world.

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