Everyday Violence, Elizabeth Stanko

“Nearly everyday, we hear pieces of stories about the latest bank robbery, mugging, or murder. Blame is usually laid on bad parenting, character, blood, or drugs, but usually, it is a stranger committing these crimes. We are constantly being told to be careful or we may be the nest victims, but how do we deal with these threats and how do we increase out personal safety?” (Stanko: 1990: 23).

The media, police, government officials, and most criminologists agree that public concern about violence, threat and fear is best focused on the faces of criminals who make our streets unsafe (Stanko, 1990: 8). The police advise us to become ‘streetwise’, and to stay alert in public. Politicians’ promise police expenders to fight crime. Elizabeth Stanko presents an argument study about the nature of violence and public safety. Her main proposal in her book states that mostly, safety lies in the hands of the individual.

In this book, Stanko explores the efforts of most of us to manage danger, both physical and sexual, in everyday life. She presents information from interviews from all over the world; England

Stanko argues that violence should not be viewed as a disruption of our calm and measured lives, but as a part of our everyday experiences, and that most of us have learned, consciously, and unconsciously, ways of managing violence and of negotiating danger (Stanko, 1990:5). Her approach differs from the traditional studies of many criminologists in several ways. First of all, she is not accepting violence, nor is she stating that most individuals experience violence on a daily basis. Rather, she is in a way, guaranteeing safety, such as staying alert on the street, avoiding certain places or resisting arguments. Exploring how individuals negotiate the daily threats and experiences of danger is the primary focus of her study and approach. While other criminological ways concern themselves only with the potential threat posed by strangers outside the home, Stanko does not assume that the home is safe to begin with. There are precautions that must be taken within the home as well as on the street.

Some of Stanko’s routines may seem quite ridiculous to some, but in reality, they make a lot of sense, such as checking each room before going to bed or sleeping with a weapon next to the bed at night. These both seem quite hideous to some but ensure our personal and family’s safety. She also goes on to prove how social and economic status affects how we determine our personal safety and the relative security we feel is one aspect of rank and privilege. Those who have low incomes and less control ver where they live are the very individuals who mention anxiety more often (Stanko, 1990:16). Other’s, for example, which can afford them, will ease their fears by buying more locks and similar gadgets or by moving to a ‘safer’ neighborhood.

The following two chapters examine being male and female and the relationships of femininity and masculinity, with understandings and experiences of sexual and physical danger. Stanko really goes more into depth in these two chapters and gives real, concrete examples of the gender differences in relation to danger and violence. Coming from a feminist background, Stanko really focuses on women’s safety and precautions. She also states that wom

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