This book aims to contribute to an understanding of the problem of violence against women in relationships, conduct a critique of the performance of the penal system and provide a reflection on the Organic Law of Comprehensive Protection against Gender Violence (LOVG) .
From a criminological perspective, the interpretation of violence exercised against women in relationships has been oversimplified in the official feminist discourse. From an individualist analysis, which emphasized the pathology of the man who mistreats, it has been passed on to a discourse that aims to explain everything by resorting to gender inequality. Faced with this discourse, understanding the different risk factors that affect the different groups of women is crucial to design specific prevention strategies and adopt the necessary social policy measures.
The fight against violence against women has developed to a great extent through criminal law. However, the criminal law not only does not "empower" women, but the excessive intervention of the penal system ends up damaging and, in some cases, punishing women themselves. To avoid these consequences, it is crucial to reflect on what the woman who goes to the penal system wants and to diversify the answers that are offered.
Despite its integral nature, the discussion around the LOVG has ended up dealing with criminal protection and the recurring question is "what is the opinion of the article that punishes the man who beats his woman partner with more severe punishment", and if this "violates the principle of equality". But, apart from the intellectual controversy, we must analyze the practical benefits of this regulation. The LOVG continues the path of intensifying penalties, but also seeks an integral approach to the problem of violence against women. Therefore, it examines the different options that this law has adopted and defends the need to support grassroots women's groups and other social services, relegating criminal law to a secondary role.