Neoliberalism’s Assault on Women’s Citizenship: The Case of Nuisance Laws and Intimate Partner Violence in the United States

Abstract

Nuisance laws in the U.S. fine or evict people for calling 911 repeatedly, and are often enforced against battered women. Using interviews with primarily poor battered women of color, I show how nuisance laws abridge their rights and prevent them from participating as citizens in a community of equals. I also argue that these laws are an example of neoliberal policy and operate to contain and exclude battered women from the rest of society, narrowing their options for action and leaving them vulnerable to intimate abuse. I conclude that, insofar as nuisance laws undercut policies intended to protect women from gender-based violence, they roll back gains in women's equality and amplify gender oppression.