The book is divided into three parts, each reflecting a major element of woman-defined advocacy: understanding a battered woman's perspective, including her risk analysis and safety plan; building partnerships with battered women; and systems advocacy. The first section discusses the uniqueness of each battered woman's experience with violence and provides a framework for advocates to understand battered women's analyses of the risks they face from the batterer and from their own life circumstances. The second section discusses the importance of an advocate's knowledge, experience, and analysis in woman-defined advocacy. It describes how to build partnerships with battered women that provide advocates with the opportunity to integrate their knowledge, resources, and advocacy into the woman's risk analysis and plans. This integration provides both the advocate and the battered woman with the best possible information on which to base further analysis and safety planning. The third section addresses the importance of creating a supportive work environment so individual woman-defined advocacy can flourish. It also provides strategies for building such an environment. In addition, it discusses the significance of policy advocacy, so that systemic responses to all battered women are enhanced. 176 references and a subject index