Transforming Abuse: Nonviolent Resistance and Recovery

Andrea Levan is an assistant professor and co-ordinator of the Women’s
Studies Program, Thorneloe College, Laurentian University.

Schmidt begins her book with basic facts about violence against women,
and tries to develop a solution to the problem based on principles of
nonviolence. She discusses practical approaches to dealing with anger
and despair and refers to particular situations, such as in family and
community life, where nonviolence needs to be practised. Because it has
such a broad scope, as a source of information the book does not have a
lot of depth. The facts on violence against women, for example, are
presented cursorily; much more informative studies are available
elsewhere.

However, the book could have a lot of value as a manual for study or
meditation. Schmidt includes numerous exercises that can be used by both
individuals and large groups. Many of them encourage inner
contemplation; others are designed to build rapport and stimulate
discussion in groups. Each of the 13 chapters is short and focused,
presents a few clear principles for consideration, and would provide an
excellent basis for a workshop.

The overall message of the book is positive and practical. Drawing on
standard principles of nonviolence, which have been developed in many
traditions, it attempts to outline a method by which individuals and
communities can eliminate violence through understanding and refusing to
accept it. By connecting these principles to the particular issue of
violence against women, it offers hope in a way that many other
treatments of the issue do not.