Courageous and comprehensive, this is the first study of its kind to address the issue of violence committed by abused women against their batterers. Written in South Africa, where domestic abuse has become very prevalent, the book evaluates the legal and social contexts surrounding these abused women. Their complicated relationship to the courts is described and thoroughly treated so as to inform the disciplines of psychology, public policy, and gender and legal studies. Advice on legal and counseling options for abused women is also provided, making the book an important resource for centers specializing in domestic violence issues.

Hallie Ludsin has LLM and JD degrees, and has written many legal articles, including Discussion Document Part 2: South African Criminal Law and Battered Women Who Kill, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (2003), and Discussion Document: Legal Defences for Battered Women Who Kill Their Abusers, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (2003). Lisa Vetten was a counselor with People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) and has testified as an expert witness on domestic violence in a number of trials involving battered women.