DePrince's book, Every 90 Seconds, is a call to action to stop violence against women in the U.S. and globally. The author emphasizes its historical origins and stresses the importance of treating gender-based violence as a public health crisis and promoting gender equality in all aspects of society—from our economy to our housing to our politics. And DePrince raises thought-provoking questions that we should all be asking: Why haven't we found a way to end this issue? Shouldn't we be more advanced in our research and education by now? What is holding us back?
DePrince's urgent tone, evident right from the first chapter, serves as a crucial reminder of the preventable violence that women face and how systems such as healthcare, policy, and the economy are failing to address it. The author effectively presents readers with data about the impact of violence on victims and witnesses and on communities and society. For instance, in Chapter 4, The Local Cost of Global Pain, the author writes, “Nearly 40% of women globally are perpetrated by intimate partners. Those women who survive intimate partner violence suffer a host of health consequences, from increased odds of having a low birth-weight baby to sexually transmitted infections” (p. 82). Unfortunately, survivors of violence may also experience additional health problems as a result of their injuries, underscoring the connection between its economic impact on systems and women’s physical and mental well being. DePrince goes on to say that women who experience violence are often disregarded and not taken seriously in healthcare settings—a system that is meant to provide care for those in need.
Violence against women is a long-standing issue, with a woman or girl suffering every 90 seconds. This problem is prevalent in schools and homes, making it crucial to address. DePrince argues that implementing stricter gun laws in the U.S. would decrease violence against women and improve educational outcomes for young people by limiting access to weapons in communities. She supports this argument with real-life examples of mass school shootings.
The author’s approach to authoring this book is commendable for its inclusivity, as it addresses the experiences of victims of gender-based violence from marginalized groups. This includes individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, migrants, and international citizens, regardless of age. Additionally, the author considers how noteworthy events in history, like the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded victims’ exposure to violence and experiences with seeking help.
DePrince’s approach to understanding the consequences of violence against women is commendable. Intimate partner violence has devastating effects on individuals, regardless of their background.
The author offers solutions for ending violence against women, covering policy, healthcare, business, and environmental approaches. DePrince’s research is valuable for direct practice social workers and academics in understanding the multifactored impacts of this issue. Including this topic within the social work curriculum would enhance social workers’ perspectives on gendered violence by bringing a trauma-informed, community-centered approach emphasizing micro, mezzo, and macro-level solutions.
Reviewed by Shakima Tozay, MSW, LICSW, PMH-C, CCM, CDP. Shakima has more than 17 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker and civil servant, primarily serving military communities.