Policy makers, practitioners, citizens - Perceptions of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994

The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) is the most comprehensive legislation to date to address violence against women in the United States. Three theoretical perspectives, derived from Foucault, Habermas, and MacKinnon, were used to examine the legislation. These perspectives were the basis of questions that were asked of VAWA policy makers, local practitioners, citizens, and survivors and perpetrators of intimate violence. The results highlight divergent perceptions between these groups. The research implies that public administrators may need to redefine and communicate the problem to more effectively formulate policy because the state is limited in its response to social problems.