DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WOMEN’S SAFETY: RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE AND FEMINIST CHALLENGES IN THE NOVEL "THE HANDMAID’S TALE" BY MARGRET ATWOOD (Pages 13-16) by Ragavi S in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

This Paper deals with domestic violence rather than other possible forms of family violence through the novel The Handmaid’s Tale. It also proceeds from the position that domestic violence is different in many ways from others forms of crime. It takes as fundamental the need to provide safety to those who experience domestic violence, most commonly women and their children. An appeal to victim safety need not imply a punitive or exclusionary logic. Restorative justice has made strong claims about providing better outcomes for victims than conventional criminal justice system practices and these claims are analysed with reference to empirical data concerning domestic violence. The chapter also examines the extent to which restorative justice practices mobilise resources for the protection of women and children.his Paper deals with domestic violence rather than other possible forms of family violence through the novel The Handmaid’s Tale. It also proceeds from the position that domestic violence is different in many ways from others forms of crime. It takes as fundamental the need to provide safety to those who experience domestic violence, most commonly women and their children. An appeal to victim safety need not imply a punitive or exclusionary logic. Restorative justice has made strong claims about providing better outcomes for victims than conventional criminal justice system practices and these claims are analysed with reference to empirical data concerning domestic violence. The chapter also examines the extent to which restorative justice practices mobilise resources for the protection of women and children.Key Words: Domestic, violence, precedes, crime, safety, punitive, exclusionary, restorative, justice, empirical.