Male Peer Support and Violence against Women: The History and Verification of a Theory

by Walter S. DeKeseredy, Martin D. Schwartz

Overview

In 1988, Walter S. DeKeseredy announced Male Peer Support (MPS) Theory, which popularized the notion that certain all-male peer groups encourage, justify, and support the abuse of women. In 1993, DeKeseredy and Martin D. Schwartz modified and expanded MPS Theory. Today, after twenty-five years of research, numerous studies from a diverse range of fields and practitioners support the original claim, providing a powerful explanation for the mechanism that underlies much of North America’s violence against women. This book provides a history of the theory, traces its development and uses over a quarter century, and offers an update on Internet-generated abuse.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781555538347
Publisher:	Northeastern University Press
Publication date:	11/28/2013
Series:	New England Gender, Crime & Law
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	675 KB

About the Author

WALTER S. DEKESEREDY is Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, West Virginia University. MARTIN D. SCHWARTZ is visiting professor in the Department of Sociology at George Washington University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Definitional Issues in Violence against Women
The Extent and Distribution of Violence against Women
The History of Male Peer Support Theories
What Do the Date Say?
New Electronic Technologies and Male Peer Support
Policy and Practice: Where Do We Go from Here?
Notes
References
Index

What People are Saying About This

Francis T. Cullen

“In the tradition of C. Wright Mills, DeKeseredy and Schwartz show that violence against women is not due to the pathology of selected individuals but rather is woven tightly into the very fabric of gender relations. Indeed, now in a mature stage of development, their male peer support theory provides both a compelling explanation for why women’s victimization persists and a framework for illuminating realistic solutions to this disquieting social problem. Their volume is destined to be a contemporary criminological classic.”

Callie Marie Rennison

“The work of DeKeseredy and Schwartz covers ground from several decades regarding violence against women. The authors present historical context, follow the development of male-peer support theory, identify definitional battles in the field, and outline what we know about this topic. Going beyond most treatments of the topic, the authors offer progressive policies and personal actions derived from theory to stop violence against women. While all of these contributions are commenable, the book’s greatest contribution is making clear for the reader that the real source of the problem of violence against women is not the victims or their behaviors – rather a key source is patriarchal male peer support.”

Michael Kimmel

“For two decades, Walter DeKeseredy and Martin Schwartz have mapped the distinctly social dynamics of men's violence against women, locating the source of this social problem not in individual psychopathologybut as an expression of deeply embedded social dynamics among men. This welcome summary of their research makes these dynamics clear — and thus points the way towards a collective accountability to end men’s violence against women.”

Editorial Reviews

The work of DeKeseredy and Schwartz covers ground from several decades regarding violence against women. The authors present historical context, follow the development of male-peer support theory, identify definitional battles in the field, and outline what we know about this topic. Going beyond most treatments of the topic, the authors offer progressive policies and personal actions derived from theory to stop violence against women. While all of these contributions are commenable, the book’s greatest contribution is making clear for the reader that the real source of the problem of violence against women is not the victims or their behaviors – rather a key source is patriarchal male peer support.” —Callie Marie Rennison, Ph.DUniversity of Colorado Denver,School of Public Affairs

“In the tradition of C. Wright Mills, DeKeseredy and Schwartz show that violence against women is not due to the pathology of selected individuals but rather is woven tightly into the very fabric of gender relations. Indeed, now in a mature stage of development, their male peer support theory provides both a compelling explanation for why women’s victimization persists and a framework for illuminating realistic solutions to this disquieting social problem.  Their volume is destined to be a contemporary criminological classic.”
 
—Francis T. Cullen, Distinguished Research Professor, University of Cincinnati

“For two decades, Walter DeKeseredy and Martin Schwartz have mapped the distinctly social dynamics of men's violence against women, locating the source of this social problem not in individual psychopathology but as an expression of deeply embedded social dynamics among men. This welcome summary of their research makes these dynamics clear — and thus points the way towards a collective accountability to end men’s violence against women.” —Michael Kimmel, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies

From the Publisher