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Enough: the violence against women and how to end it
This is a book that calls time on the endless tide of violence against women and the failures of our criminal justice system to respond.
From barrister Harriet Johnson, Enough lays bare the appalling status quo of abuse against women in our society, offering an irrefutable case for why change is needed in policing and justice. Most vitally, it also gives a manifesto for how to get there.
With expertise, clear-sightedness and appropriate fury, this book helps us see where women are suffering – from homicide to domestic abuse to street harassment. It exposes the ways the criminal justice system lets women down – from officers failing to properly investigate to a lack of consequences when police behaviour is unacceptable, to backlogged courts and the realities of convincing a jury.
Addressing misogyny is to everyone’s benefit and the answers aren’t simple. Enough is the call to arms we can – and must – all get behind.
From barrister Harriet Johnson, Enough lays bare the appalling status quo of abuse against women in our society, offering an irrefutable case for why change is needed in policing and justice. Most vitally, it also gives a manifesto for how to get there.
With expertise, clear-sightedness and appropriate fury, this book helps us see where women are suffering – from homicide to domestic abuse to street harassment. It exposes the ways the criminal justice system lets women down – from officers failing to properly investigate to a lack of consequences when police behaviour is unacceptable, to backlogged courts and the realities of convincing a jury.
Addressing misogyny is to everyone’s benefit and the answers aren’t simple. Enough is the call to arms we can – and must – all get behind.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2022
21 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 6, 2022
"Accept nothing less than a revolution."
I have read one book all month, so busy has my life been lately and so shifted have my attentions been away from reading. I am so glad I made time for this slim, important, and highly impactful novel. I tore through it in one sitting but will return to it on many occasions.
The title demonstrates the contents of this book, the anger of the tone featured, and the message it hopes to impart. Everyone should read this volume for the problems that female-identifying individuals face and how to correct where society has failed us.
I have read one book all month, so busy has my life been lately and so shifted have my attentions been away from reading. I am so glad I made time for this slim, important, and highly impactful novel. I tore through it in one sitting but will return to it on many occasions.
The title demonstrates the contents of this book, the anger of the tone featured, and the message it hopes to impart. Everyone should read this volume for the problems that female-identifying individuals face and how to correct where society has failed us.
April 14, 2022
In her work as a barrister, Harriet Johnson has seen how the criminal justice system can work and also how it can fail women. In this book, Harriet outlines many of the ways violence is perpetrated against women, how the justice system responds to it and how it can be more adequately addressed as well as prevented.
An overview of the law, statistics and case studies are presented about various ways that women experience violence: homicide, sexual violence, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, stalking, street harassment and online harassment.
The author clearly points out that even though a dark picture can already be painted using the statistics that are available, there are entire groups of women whose experience is not even captured in them.
If you’re not from the UK, you’ll find that the definitions of offences, the laws that relate to them and the maximum applicable if someone is convicted won’t line up with the laws of your country. The statistics are also UK specific, although most didn’t seem dissimilar to what I know of stats from other countries.
None of the suggested strategies for ending violence against women surprised me. They focus on prevention, as well as making improvements to the systems that are currently in place. It’s about having enough resources and training. It’s taking a long, hard look at the way police and the courts respond to violence. It’s including marginalised women in the statistics because if we don’t have a clear picture of what’s happening, then how can we ever expect things to change.
Favourite quote: “the culture you get is the behaviour you tolerate.”
Content warnings include mention of .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
An overview of the law, statistics and case studies are presented about various ways that women experience violence: homicide, sexual violence, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, stalking, street harassment and online harassment.
The author clearly points out that even though a dark picture can already be painted using the statistics that are available, there are entire groups of women whose experience is not even captured in them.
If you’re not from the UK, you’ll find that the definitions of offences, the laws that relate to them and the maximum applicable if someone is convicted won’t line up with the laws of your country. The statistics are also UK specific, although most didn’t seem dissimilar to what I know of stats from other countries.
None of the suggested strategies for ending violence against women surprised me. They focus on prevention, as well as making improvements to the systems that are currently in place. It’s about having enough resources and training. It’s taking a long, hard look at the way police and the courts respond to violence. It’s including marginalised women in the statistics because if we don’t have a clear picture of what’s happening, then how can we ever expect things to change.
Favourite quote: “the culture you get is the behaviour you tolerate.”
Content warnings include mention of .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
December 30, 2022
For those who have suffered directly, silence can be the only way to survive. The right to it is vital. For everyone else, silence is complicity.
Really loved this book. Easy to read and well written and researched. Finished it in one train journey! Kept quotes to remember on my progress reports
April 2, 2023
A massively important & up to date book about the lived experiences of women in the UK, showing how alarmingly OUT OF DATE the views, laws and responses to violence against women truly is.
October 16, 2025
‘Not all men practise violence against women but all women live with the threat of male violence every single day. All over the earth. - Fuad Alakbarov.
What an amazing quote to kick the book off with because it just sums up the book and the way most women feel. Every woman should read this book. Demand change and accept nothing less than revolution.
What an amazing quote to kick the book off with because it just sums up the book and the way most women feel. Every woman should read this book. Demand change and accept nothing less than revolution.
January 29, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Not all men practise violence against women, but all women live with the threat of male violence every single day. All over the earth”.
Harriet Johnson, a UK barrister specialising in human rights and criminal law, wrote "Enough: The violence against women and how to end it” in the aftermath of the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer of the Metropolitan Police Force.
In her work as a barrister, Harriet Johnson has seen how the criminal justice system can work and how it can fail women. In this book, Harriet outlines many of the ways violence is perpetrated against women, how the justice system responds to it and how it can be more adequately addressed as well as prevented.
The book provides an exhaustive overview of the law, incorporating statistics and case studies that cover a spectrum of violence experienced by women, including homicide, sexual violence, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, stalking, street harassment, and online harassment.
For readers outside the UK, the definitions of offences, related laws, and maximum penalties for convictions may differ from respective countries. While statistics are specific to the UK, they align closely with comparable data from other nations that are very well documented within the media across the world.
This book should be mandatory reading for everyone, as it powerfully highlights that misogyny is not exclusive to men. Despite being a challenging read filled with weighty statistics, it maintains a concise and direct approach.
The emotional impact of this narrative is profound, evoking a sense of heartache for all the women who have endured suffering and a poignant acknowledgment of the struggles that many will continue to face. It resonates with the shared pain of women's experiences, serving as a tribute to their strength and resilience.
I’ll be recommending this to everyone, and the fight will continue for women to not be another statistic or news story.
“Not all men practise violence against women, but all women live with the threat of male violence every single day. All over the earth”.
Harriet Johnson, a UK barrister specialising in human rights and criminal law, wrote "Enough: The violence against women and how to end it” in the aftermath of the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer of the Metropolitan Police Force.
In her work as a barrister, Harriet Johnson has seen how the criminal justice system can work and how it can fail women. In this book, Harriet outlines many of the ways violence is perpetrated against women, how the justice system responds to it and how it can be more adequately addressed as well as prevented.
The book provides an exhaustive overview of the law, incorporating statistics and case studies that cover a spectrum of violence experienced by women, including homicide, sexual violence, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, stalking, street harassment, and online harassment.
For readers outside the UK, the definitions of offences, related laws, and maximum penalties for convictions may differ from respective countries. While statistics are specific to the UK, they align closely with comparable data from other nations that are very well documented within the media across the world.
This book should be mandatory reading for everyone, as it powerfully highlights that misogyny is not exclusive to men. Despite being a challenging read filled with weighty statistics, it maintains a concise and direct approach.
The emotional impact of this narrative is profound, evoking a sense of heartache for all the women who have endured suffering and a poignant acknowledgment of the struggles that many will continue to face. It resonates with the shared pain of women's experiences, serving as a tribute to their strength and resilience.
I’ll be recommending this to everyone, and the fight will continue for women to not be another statistic or news story.
May 11, 2024
the culture you get is the behaviour you tolerate
if the endless tidal wave of violence against women is to subside, it requires every man who has ever thought, “i would never behave that way”, to do something meaningful about it
enough is enough boys, get 👏 out 👏 there 👏
if the endless tidal wave of violence against women is to subside, it requires every man who has ever thought, “i would never behave that way”, to do something meaningful about it
enough is enough boys, get 👏 out 👏 there 👏
January 26, 2025
Compelling story telling and useful to have the perspective of someone in the field of law, but the last section left some things to be desired in terms of a) actionable solutions and b) motivation that change is possible.
May 25, 2022
I usually only give books a 5 star rating if I know I would happily read again & enjoy. Harriet deserves the 5 stars not for writing an enjoyable book (it's not meant to be), but for bringing us an important book.
Should be required reading for all. Men are not the only ones who embed misogyny.
A tough read. Full of heavy statistics. At times like a text book. But she manages to keep it concise & to the point. Her summary was excellent. Stay loud because "Misogyny likes us quiet".
Should be required reading for all. Men are not the only ones who embed misogyny.
A tough read. Full of heavy statistics. At times like a text book. But she manages to keep it concise & to the point. Her summary was excellent. Stay loud because "Misogyny likes us quiet".
August 18, 2022
The statistics in this are scary. We as a collective human race need to fight for change. An eye opening and challenging read.
June 7, 2023
"Enough" was a really compelling read and it was disturbing to learn more how pervasive violence against women still is on all levels.
December 6, 2023
An absolute must read, totally eye opening and disturbing but very important.
April 7, 2025
The book left me with goosebumps. Seeing the statistics for the UK was horrifying. It's a brilliant mix of statistics, experiences and how politics and the justice system are contributing. Like Harriet says on one of the last pages "Misogyny likes us quiet." But it's time we stop being quiet.
May 2, 2025
Concise, helpful, validating, humane, and full of facts.
September 3, 2025
Very interesting, gave me a lot more of an insight into a topic I didn’t know as much about. You always know that women suffer from misogyny and oppression but never how much, this book puts that into perspective.
June 29, 2025
Recommend +++
March 7, 2023
“The culture you get is the behaviour you tolerate.”
This book arms you with statistics about violence against women, some of which hit hard. The second section on how to make change is weaker and at times repetitive. Overall though a powerful and informative read on an important subject.
This book arms you with statistics about violence against women, some of which hit hard. The second section on how to make change is weaker and at times repetitive. Overall though a powerful and informative read on an important subject.
May 8, 2022
'The culture you get is the behaviour you tolerate' (56%)
My recurring thought while reading this was how interesting sitting next to Johnson at a dinner party would be. It wouldn't be uplifting, but you'd feel better for having explored her knowledge, experience and understanding. That's the tone of this book.
Barrister Harriet Johnson dissects the culture and legal system in the UK surrounding abuse against women. With her expertise and research, she explains the extent and diversity of how women are suffering and exposes the depth of the ways the criminal justice system fails to support them.
I appreciated that Johnson acknowledges her biases, such as the skewed nature of her data sample and experience (30%); the cases that are handled well seldom become part of her caseload. It lends a balanced tone to the discussion that lends further weight to her points. This balance is incorporated throughout, never focusing blame on one corner. Instead, she discusses the inherent issues that span across multiple sources, from the heights of the legal system, down to the slight comment that anyone can let pass unchallenged.
This is a truly thought-provoking book, one that has prompted many interesting discussions in my life since reading it. I aim to do Johnson proud and remember these facts and statistics, 'use them' and 'demand better' (63%).
'it is too late for sticking plasters' (57%)
My recurring thought while reading this was how interesting sitting next to Johnson at a dinner party would be. It wouldn't be uplifting, but you'd feel better for having explored her knowledge, experience and understanding. That's the tone of this book.
Barrister Harriet Johnson dissects the culture and legal system in the UK surrounding abuse against women. With her expertise and research, she explains the extent and diversity of how women are suffering and exposes the depth of the ways the criminal justice system fails to support them.
I appreciated that Johnson acknowledges her biases, such as the skewed nature of her data sample and experience (30%); the cases that are handled well seldom become part of her caseload. It lends a balanced tone to the discussion that lends further weight to her points. This balance is incorporated throughout, never focusing blame on one corner. Instead, she discusses the inherent issues that span across multiple sources, from the heights of the legal system, down to the slight comment that anyone can let pass unchallenged.
This is a truly thought-provoking book, one that has prompted many interesting discussions in my life since reading it. I aim to do Johnson proud and remember these facts and statistics, 'use them' and 'demand better' (63%).
'it is too late for sticking plasters' (57%)
December 31, 2024
I wish there was an equivalent of this book in Australia which went into our laws and statistics.
July 10, 2025
4/5 stars
January 3, 2026
These appalling statistics will stay with me for a very long time:
* In the UK, 93% of murders are committed by men.
* 62% of women killed die at the hands of a partner or ex-partner (an average of 2 woman per week).
* 23% women over 60 were killed by their own son.
* In 86% of the rapes, the women knew the perpetrator.
* Of the rapes reported only 1.3% resulted in a suspect being charged.
* In England and Wales, 20% of women above 16 have experienced some form of sexual assault (compared with 4% of men).
“Perhaps the biggest misconception about violence against women is that it is about women at all. It is not. The violence towards women overwhelmingly comes from men. It is male violence that is the problem. And the victims of male violence are not just women.”
“Rape is a crime of violence and power, not of lust. To suggest that a woman was raped because of the revealing clothes she was wearing is to suggest that rape occurs because a man, faced with naked human skin, simply cannot control himself. It is degrading not only to the woman blamed for ‘provoking’ the attack, but to men everywhere. It suggests their default position is ‘rapist’: that the only thing stopping a man from committing rape is a layer of fabric, a lack of opportunity. This is not true.”
* In the UK, 93% of murders are committed by men.
* 62% of women killed die at the hands of a partner or ex-partner (an average of 2 woman per week).
* 23% women over 60 were killed by their own son.
* In 86% of the rapes, the women knew the perpetrator.
* Of the rapes reported only 1.3% resulted in a suspect being charged.
* In England and Wales, 20% of women above 16 have experienced some form of sexual assault (compared with 4% of men).
“Perhaps the biggest misconception about violence against women is that it is about women at all. It is not. The violence towards women overwhelmingly comes from men. It is male violence that is the problem. And the victims of male violence are not just women.”
“Rape is a crime of violence and power, not of lust. To suggest that a woman was raped because of the revealing clothes she was wearing is to suggest that rape occurs because a man, faced with naked human skin, simply cannot control himself. It is degrading not only to the woman blamed for ‘provoking’ the attack, but to men everywhere. It suggests their default position is ‘rapist’: that the only thing stopping a man from committing rape is a layer of fabric, a lack of opportunity. This is not true.”
December 19, 2022
Deklaratyvi, bet tuo pačiu ir labai konkreti knyga: kas blogai, kodėl blogai, kaip galime tai keisti. Gana praktiška, su aiškiomis rekomendacijomis skirtingoms už kovą su vyrų smurtu prieš moteris atsakingoms grandims: policijai, prokuratūrai, teismams, visuomenei. Analizuojama Jungtinės Karalystės apsaugos nuo smurto sistema ir trūkumai, bet beveik absoliuti dauguma dalykų aktualūs ir mūsų šaliai. Vienas jų, ką galime gerinti be didelių arba esminių reformų - rinkti duomenis ir jais vadovautis. Kitas - turint net ir netobulą teisinį reguliavimą, jį taikyti. Ir tas labai tinka kalbant apie daugelį baudžiamojo kodekso straipsnių, kuriuos jau turime seksualiniam priekabiavimui, seksualinei prievartai, neapykantos kalbai, bet vangiai taikome pilna apimtimi.
Labiausiai pajudinusios citatos:
"One of the best ways to change the legal system is to use it".
"The problem is nota that we don't have the laws to combat gender-based violence; it's that we don't use them. And if we're not using the ones we have, what point is there ir making more?"
"The silence is no longer an option. It bears repeating: the culture you get is the behaviour you tolerate."
Labiausiai pajudinusios citatos:
"One of the best ways to change the legal system is to use it".
"The problem is nota that we don't have the laws to combat gender-based violence; it's that we don't use them. And if we're not using the ones we have, what point is there ir making more?"
"The silence is no longer an option. It bears repeating: the culture you get is the behaviour you tolerate."
March 18, 2023
“The culture you get is the behaviour you tolerate”
An important short read that can be finished in a day. A call to arms to end violence against women in the U.K.
Johnson focuses on the myriad of ways women are discriminated against in the justice system, including by CPS rape myth biases and police officer biases, as well as addressing the ways marginalised communities are affected (and missed out of statistics entirely, which is even worse). A truly important read for everyone.
I particularly liked how she called out male barristers in the legal profession for victim blaming in their closing remarks, but received no BSB investigations. Much more powerful are the defence advocates who defend their clients without discriminating against women and permeating myths.
An important short read that can be finished in a day. A call to arms to end violence against women in the U.K.
Johnson focuses on the myriad of ways women are discriminated against in the justice system, including by CPS rape myth biases and police officer biases, as well as addressing the ways marginalised communities are affected (and missed out of statistics entirely, which is even worse). A truly important read for everyone.
I particularly liked how she called out male barristers in the legal profession for victim blaming in their closing remarks, but received no BSB investigations. Much more powerful are the defence advocates who defend their clients without discriminating against women and permeating myths.
March 24, 2025
"The culture you get is the behavior you tolerate."
A concise and clear accounting of the violence that women in our society suffer from, how the justice system and police are not currently fit for purpose in dealing with this violence or providing the support to women who have suffered it, and thoughts in what can be done to address it.
I would recommend everyone to read this book. It provides straightforward and shocking statistics, and heinous real world examples of crimes perpetrated against women and failures of the authorities to both prosecute the perpetrator or believe and support the victim/survivor.
Some of this made my skin absolutely crawl.
Read the book, support women, call out predatory behavior.
A concise and clear accounting of the violence that women in our society suffer from, how the justice system and police are not currently fit for purpose in dealing with this violence or providing the support to women who have suffered it, and thoughts in what can be done to address it.
I would recommend everyone to read this book. It provides straightforward and shocking statistics, and heinous real world examples of crimes perpetrated against women and failures of the authorities to both prosecute the perpetrator or believe and support the victim/survivor.
Some of this made my skin absolutely crawl.
Read the book, support women, call out predatory behavior.
September 25, 2022
In some ways, this book was not what I was expecting. I thought that it would be a lot of qualitative stories of women she has represented (of which I'm sure there are many) but the set-up with the objective overview of statistics and the law gives this book a much more deliberate and urgent quality to a lot of similar ones. It does exactly what it says it does in a clear, concise way and I think it holds an appeal to a broad audience (e.g. not just women) which is hard to do and totally necessary to provoke any real change.
August 11, 2023
This book is one of the most important books I have ever read, by a barrister who sees day in day out the violence women face and the justice we never receive. It is a call to arms and a succint, brilliant precis of all the key statstics and laws to arm you against the next person who diminishes its seriousness. I feel not just acknowledged by Harriet's incredible writing, but understood in a way I didn't think was possible. She has articulated the lasting effect of gender-based violence with such clarity and compassion it is hard to look away.
May 12, 2023
This was much shorter than I expected when I heard about it, but it did the job and kept everything very clear and concise. The facts and figures relating to violence against women is terrifying, and this book works hard to not only bring attention to that but to work towards solutions. Seeing the gaps and failures of the powers that be, whether intentional or otherwise, is a bleak and important topic that needs to be talked about over and over until real change occurs.
June 14, 2023
A short but powerful read about the prevalence of violence against women and logical arguments on how to end it. Harriet Johnson uses her experiences and passion to write a compelling narrative about violence against women. I recognised myself in her words not only as a woman, a survivor, and an educator but as a Feminist and advocate. I will be returning to this book time and time again when I feel powerless to remind me to keep fighting
December 17, 2023
this was a heavy one but so important. Definitely a big focus on the UK but still recommendable to everyone.
really goes into the facts, the laws and what needs to change. i also really appreciated that it talked not about more than just women but the different kinds of women, that trans, black or disabled women are experiencing things differently to cis, white or abled (hope thats the right word) women. last chapter was definitely a 10/10
really goes into the facts, the laws and what needs to change. i also really appreciated that it talked not about more than just women but the different kinds of women, that trans, black or disabled women are experiencing things differently to cis, white or abled (hope thats the right word) women. last chapter was definitely a 10/10
April 7, 2024
“Misogyny walks among us every day in plain clothes.
It is in the men who come home carrying flowers for their broken wives, promising it'll be different this time.
It is in the women who read a report of a woman attacked in the street and think, 'What was she doing by herself in the middle of the night?' It is in those who laugh off rape jokes; who pretend not to hear; who won't look up; who don't intervene. It is in every one of us who stands by.”
It is in the men who come home carrying flowers for their broken wives, promising it'll be different this time.
It is in the women who read a report of a woman attacked in the street and think, 'What was she doing by herself in the middle of the night?' It is in those who laugh off rape jokes; who pretend not to hear; who won't look up; who don't intervene. It is in every one of us who stands by.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews