Violence against women is a pervasive problem in society and responding appropriately to those who experience it and those who perpetrate it is a constant challenge for social work, health and related professions today. This volume seeks to address issues surrounding violence against women at all levels, from its root causes to the specific needs arising in victims of gendered abuse from a particular social or ethnic group. Drawing on the expertise of a range of 'front line' service providers and practitioners as well as academic researchers, it seeks to provide those working in social work and related professions with up-to-date coverage of the major issues pertaining to violence against women, and suggest ways to tackle the rise in violence against women by translating knowledge into effective training and practice.This important book will be essential reading for practising social workers and allied professions, as well as academics and students.

Introduction. Nancy Lombard and Lesley McMillan, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. 1. Coercive Control. Evan Stark, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA. 2. The 'Three Planet Model': Towards an Understanding of Contradictions in Approaches to Women and Children's Safety in Contexts of Domestic Violence. Marianne Hester, University of Bristol, UK. 3. Domestic Violence, Safety and Child Contact in England: Hiding Violent Men in the Shadows of Parenting. Lorraine Radford, independent violence prevention researcher, UK. 4. Sexual Victimisation: Disclosure, Responses and Impact. Lesley McMillan. 5. Violence Against Sex Workers in the UK. Alison Phipps, University of Sussex, UK. 6. Love, Power and Control: Girls' Experiences of Relationship Exploitation and Violence. Christine Barter and Melanie McCarry, University of Bristol, UK. 7. Older Women and Domestic Abuse: Where Sexism and Ageism Intersect. Nancy Lombard and Marsha Scott, Engender, UK. 8. Intersecting Inequalities: Implications for Addressing Violence Against Black and Minority Ethnic Women in the United Kingdom. Aisha K. Gill, Roehampton University, UK. 9. Domestic Abuse in the UK: Why We Need to Understand Perpetrators. Elizabeth Gilchrist, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. 10. What About the Men? Understanding Men's Experiences of Domestic Abuse within a Gender-Based Model of Violence. Nancy Lombard. 11. Effecting Operational Change through Training: Challenges and Approaches. Nel Whiting, Scottish Women's Aid, Edinburgh, UK. 12. Partnership Working and Tackling Violence against Women: Pitfalls and Possibilities. Kirstein Rummery, University of Stirling, UK. 13. Taking Stock: Theory and Practice in Violence Against Women. Nancy Lombard and Lesley McMillan.