SAVING BERNICE

Saving Bernice: Battered Women, Welfare, and Poverty

Saving Bernice: Battered Women, Welfare, and Poverty

Introduction

This book reviews the consequences of the domestic violence that affect all women who are on welfare program in U.S. Raphael has discussed various issues women faces when they receive welfare payments. It covers issues like domestic violence and problem of poverty. The story is focused on Bernice who is an African-American women facing such problems. She emphasize that around 20% to 30% mothers who are in welfare program are victims of domestic violence. After the welfare program had started, it was realized that women are facing such issues, and they are reluctant to join such programs.

She also says that some women on welfare may also recreate nuclear family relationships and traditional sex roles. Women who have experienced extreme violence and poverty could lead to further violent relationships.

Discussion

Jody Raphael explains how welfare to work program may help women to escape from different issues they face. It could only be achieved if their partners stop harassing such women. The problem she emphasizes is that, these partners will harass women to get the education and job in order keep them dominant. These acts include, throwing away the assignments they prepared, bruising their face and kidnapping them. These women also face discrimination and other difficulties when they finally start working. Employers may dismiss them; treat them unequally and due to harassment from their partners they are not able to work smoothly (Harne, 2003).

The book reviews different experiences faced by women in depth. The reason why these partners harass them is their desire to dominate over them and to exert economic control. The most important aspect of the discussion is the fact that although a lot of development has been made on women rights and the issues faced by them, ...