Warfare in the Home

"Four million women per year are victims of violence perpetrated, in many cases, by men who vowed to love, honor, and cherish them. Approximately 1,200 women will be killed every year by those same men" (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

In the book Warfare in the Home: Empowering Women of Color Against Domestic Violence, Sonia Martin dares to confront the issues of inequality and oppression perpetuated by cultural programming and the mindset of male dominance.

Countless women have survived unspeakable abuses. Sadly, some females have been murdered while others are still living under tenacious verbal condescension, psychological fear, emotional anguish, and physical degradation, resulting in relentless bodily mistreatment. This problem of domestic violence has been an inescapable and pervasive problem faced by women of all cultural backgrounds. Domestic violence occurs within homes, educational institutions, the larger society, and even the church community. There is a need for domestic violent acts to be addressed and effectively resolved.

Sonia Martin strongly believes in women''s empowerment. She defines empowerment as "the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their God-given rights." Sonia Martin believes that it is essential that church leadership be educated on effective ways to hold abusive men accountable. She argues that pastors are required not only to be spiritual leaders but must also offer empowerment to abused women to enhance and promote self-determination, stronger marriages, and an overall improvement in family relations.