A Cross-Cultural Assessment of Posttrauma Reactions Among Malaysian and US Women Reporting Partner Abuse

Information on partner abuse in women from non-Western cultures and resulting psychological morbidity are scant. The present study examined these issues among women who experienced partner violence and sought refuge at a domestic violence shelter in Malaysia. These women completed a semi-structured interview and standardized measures to assess posttrauma morbidity. Responses by Malaysian shelter residents were compared with a sample of US women who also reported partner violence. The majority of women in both samples reported severe levels of distress and met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These findings suggest that psychological problems that women face after partner abuse may be similar in many respects, despite political, geographical, or cultural differences.     

The effect of shock and regular probation upon recidivism: A comparative analysis

Previous studies of shock probation have reported mixed effects with regard to recidivism rates. This particular study compared the attributes of a sample of shock and regular probationers and discovered that type of probation was not significantly related to rearrest rates.     

Feminism and Canadian justice: How far have we come?

This paper discusses two interrelated problems. First, it discusses the impact the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has had on women's social and economic status. Second, it discusses the role feminists can play in changing the face of the Canadian justice system. With regard to the first of these issues, it is observed that considerable evidence suggests that women's economic position has not improved in recent years. Women continue to be paid less men, are less likely than men to have access to employer pension plans, and are more likely to be included among those with incomes below the poverty line. The Charter has done little to change this. With regard to the role feminists can play in changing the justice system, it is argued that feminists must continue to channel at least some of their energy through the Supreme Court of Canada, even though the ultimate goals of feminism require a radical departure from and a transformation of the theories of justice.