"Violence and Gender Reexamined challenges one of Western culture's most deeply held assumptions: that violence against women is different from violence against men. In this book, author Richard B. Felson makes a case that this type of violence is rarely the result of sexism or hatred against women. The author cites research suggesting that the motives for violence against women are similar to the motives for violence against men: to gain control or retribution and to promote or defend self-image. These motives play a role in almost all violence, regardless of gender."--BOOK JACKET.