Next Time, She'll Be Dead: Battering and How to Stop It

At least one in four women experience abuse during their lifetime, with thousands killed annually. Ann Jones examines how battering is commonly treated as an inevitable "domestic violence" problem rather than a serious crime. Media coverage of household assaults and murders often blames the victim for provoking the attack or failing to leave. Jones identifies societal factors that promote, trivialize, and perpetuate brutality against women, including popular psychology, academic expertise, mass media, pop culture, the criminal justice system, and the law itself. The book explores the history, legality, and personal politics of male violence against wives and girlfriends, reframing how battering is understood. It presents ways of thinking and speaking about battering and outlines what must be done to stop it.