The sexuality of women in physically abusive marriages: A comparative study

This study compared 60 abused women with a demographically matched sample of nonabused women in distressed marriages to examine female sexuality in physically abusive marriages. The total study population consisted of 120 women aged 19-29 years. The sample of abused women was obtained from couples who were enrolled under the Domestic Conflict Containment Program, while the sample of nonabused women was selected from couples who were enrolled in marital group therapy to control for any confounding effects of marital discord and dissatisfaction. With the exception of religion, both groups were equally matched in numbers, but no significant differences were discovered between the two samples on any of the demographic variables. Results of the study showed that physically abused women expressed lower levels of intimacy (p 0.001) and compatibility (p = 0.034) in their marriages than did nonabused women. Lower degrees of sexual assertiveness (p 0.001), sexual arousal (p = 0.026), and a more traditional sex-role ideology (p 0.001) was reported by women in abusive relationships. In addition, abused women reported greater sexual dissatisfaction (p = 0.022), a more negative disposition regarding sex (p = 0.054), and a stronger tendency to avoid sexual activity (p 0.01). Despite these findings, abused women reported a higher frequency of sexual intercourse with their spouses (p 0.001) than women in nonviolent marriages.     

Teaching the Political Context of EC Law

Books reviewed in this article: D. Dinan, Ever Closer Union? An Introduction to the European Community J. Greenwood, Representing Interests in the European Union F. Hayes-Renshaw and H. Wallace, The Council of Ministers S. Hix and C. Lord, Political Parties in the European Union N. Nugent, The Government and Politics of the European Union R. Dehousse, The European Court of Justice: The Politics of Judicial Integration P. Craig and G. de Burca, EC Law, Text, Cases, & Materials D. Chalmers and E. Szyszczak, European Union Law. Volume One. Law and EU Government