What to Do When Love Turns Violent: A Practical Resource for Women in Abusive Relationships [Paperback]

Marian Betancourt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1997

In this country, a woman is physically abused every nine seconds. One in four women is battered by a husband or boyfriend. One third of all female homicide victims are killed by their domestic partners. These are only some of the shocking statistics that led the American Medical Association to proclaim domestic violence a public health issue as well as lend their imprimatur to this book.

What to Do When Love Turns Violent    is a guide to help women break free from violence. Much has been published on the psychological and social ramifications of domestic violence but until now there has been nothing available to help women conquer the immediate obstacle of getting out and staying out of danger. What to Do When Love Turns Violent is a source of hard facts to help women seek protection through law enforcement and the justice system, get assistance from the healthcare system and find answers to their questions. It details what they may expect at each step as they devise their "exit plan."

As the issue of domestic violence finally gets the attention it deserves, more and more women will seek solutions. Consulting this sourcebook is their crucial first step.

If you are an abused woman or know someone who is, What to Do When Love Turns Violent   is the most practical, indispensable resource for you to end the abuse. Coming from someone who has been there and survived, this book arms you with everything you need to know to make the right choices. The first part spells out an action plan to get out of danger and find immediate help

--Making a protective order work

-- Calling thepolice

-- Finding safe shelter

-- Seeking medical attention

-- Pressing charges

--Getting financial assistance

The secondpart details how to stay safe and regain control over your life

-- Preparing for safety at home and on the job

-- Protecting your children

-- Ending the relationship

-- Rebuilding your life

For quick reference, What to Do When Love Turns Violent  includes a state-by-state directory of domestic violence hot lines and a listing of the national organizations devoted to helping victims of domestic violence. Consulting this sourcebook is the crucial first step tobreaking the cycle of domestic violence. There is help out there, and What to Do WhenLove Turns Violent  empowers you to find it and take back your life.

Marian Betancourt was married to an abusive man but broke free from the violence. She has been a professional writer for more than 20 years and is the co-author of several books about women's health issues, including What to Do If You Get Breast Cancer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Possible the single best resource....provides detailed advice and helpful sources to aid in every aspect of escape." -- Jane E. Brody, New York Times

"Possible the single best resource....provides detailed advice and helpful sources to aid in every aspect of escape." -- Jane E. Brody, New York Times

"This book should be in every library and a part of everyone's consciousness." -- --Peter Glick,New York Law Journal

"This book should be in every library and a part of everyone's consciousness." -- --Peter Glick,New York Law Journal

"This may be the most important book of your life." -- --Robert McAfee, past president, American Medical Association

"This may be the most important book of your life." -- --Robert McAfee, past president, American Medical Association

About the Author

Marian Betancourt has written several books about women's health and is the author of What to Do When Love Turns Violent (HarperCollins, 1997), which The New York Times called "the single best resource on the subject." She lectures on domestic violence and has appeared on radio and television shows including the Oprah Winfrey Show. A new edition of the book will be published in 1999. Her other books include What to Do If You Get Breast Cancer (Little, Brown, 1995), Chronic Illness and the Family (Adams, 1996), What to Do If You Get Colon Cancer (Wiley, 1997), and The Prostate Cancer Sourcebook (Wiley, 1998). She is a member of the Author's Guild and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She is a native New Yorker and lives in Brooklyn.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperResource; 1st edition (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062734563
• ISBN-13: 978-0062734563
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,561,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An easy to read, well written guide for women., May 24, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Hickory, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What to Do When Love Turns Violent: A Practical Resource for Women in Abusive Relationships (Paperback)

This book is an easy to read, well written guide to help women get out of dangerous situations safely. Each chapter is filled with valuable information that is thoughtful and practical. As a health care provider, I think having this information available can be critical. It also includes an excellent resource section. I feel this is such an important topic and such an excellent guide, it is available to be checked out by patients at my gynecology practice.