Domestic Abuse: Setting the Context

1. Domestic Abuse: Setting the Context

2. Gender based violence • Domestic abuse • Rape and sexual assault, • Sexual harassment, • Commercial sexual exploitation, • Forced marriage • Honour killings • Trafficking …

3. Gender-based violence is: ‘an umbrella term encompassing the spectrum of abuse aimed at individuals and groups based on their specific gender role in society. It is experienced disproportionately by women and is perpetrated predominantly by men and may manifest in many ways.’ 3

4. Gender-Based Violence “Any form of violence used to establish, enforce or perpetrate gender inequalities and keep in place gendered orders. In other words gender based violence is a policing mechanism.” James Lang 2002

5. What do these kind of harms have in common? They way women are valued... or devalued Salient points: • these harms are not separate • these harms are connected • often more than 1 form of abuse expereinced

6. Connections • Gender • Power and control • Tolerance and victim blaming • High levels of under-reporting • High levels of repeat victimisation • Justice gap (prosecution & conviction) • Impact and consequences

7. A Gender Analysis Is a framework for collecting & examining information about the differences in women’s and men’s lives, experiences, behaviours, status, opportunities & limitations. It also investigates the social, economic, political & cultural structures which serve to maintain or transform gender-based stereotypes, inequalities & abuses.

8. What is Gender? Gender refers to the array of socially constructed; roles traits attitudes behaviours values responsibilities relative power status influence ascribed to male & female humans on a differential basis. World Health Organisation

9. Gender identity (masculinity/femininity) is not biological, it’s learned. It’s changeable over time and varies widely within & across cultures. Gender refers not simply to women and/or men but to the relationships between & among them. Gender identities condition the way human beings are perceived and how they are expected to think and act. World Health Organisation

10. Features of domestic abuse: • Deliberate • Often planned • One sided • Repetitive • Often escalating Result: • Causes fear • Controls behaviour

11. Who does what to whom?? • Situational couple violence • Intimate terrorism • Violent resistance Michael Johnson

12. Situational couple violence much violence between couples is bilateral (though not always symmetrical) • Happens to men and women • Harms/behaviours are shared • Situation specific • Risk disappears with separation • Fear levels are non existent • No one loses their autonomy • Technically no one is a victim

13. Intimate terrorism Partner Assault • Motive: hurt, punish, control • Harms are repetitive • Harms escalates over time • Harms can include sexual abuse • Risk often increases with separation • Fear or injury levels are often high

14. Intimate terrorism also targets women’s default roles : • homemaker • sexual partner • mother • “wife”

15. Violent resistance .

16. Reframing Domestic Abuse Not primarily a crime of violence Is primarily a liberty crime Results in lack of space for action Violence is a tool used (the least perfect?) As are threats, degradation, micro-management Functional violence – ask what he gains by using it! ‘Coercive control’ or ‘intimate terrorism’ Crosses social space.

17. Why does he do that? • He isn’t abusive because he is angry • He behaves this way because he’s abusive • He doesn’t lose control of himself • He takes control of his partner • An abuser is not born he’s made • To bring about change in an abuser; reshape his attitude toward power & exploitation

18. Evan Stark argues that …. ‘Domestic abuse is primarily a liberty crime against a woman’s autonomy rather than a crime of assault…’ If we agree, then that same liberty crime must apply to her children, potentially impacting on their •education •relationships •social opportunities •mental well being >

19. The immediate picture; easier to identify, measure & hold accountable incidents of physical assault. The bigger picture; lets us take into account the context in which individual acts were committed Evan Stark Surely the same will apply to her children, whether or not they are directly targeted? >

20. focus on the intent not just the impactof conduct perpetrated by abusers… in order to recognise the nature and range of tactics & behaviours which function to exercise coercive control over women & their children Evan Stark >

21. Considering what we see… >

22. Considering women & children’s experiences… The strategies that exist within an intimate relationship where domestic abuse reigns include physical aggression & threats In order to; intimidatehumiliateisolateexhaustdisable control with the sole purpose of demonstrating power >

24. Living with Fear confused trapped Fear Fear anxious Fear helpless silenced Fear Fear hopeful Fear >

25. barriers that silence CYP • Fear of the abuser finding out • Fear of harm to others • Fear for mother/family security • Fear of not being believed • Fear of being stigmatised • Difficulty in talking to adults • Not having anyone to tell • Services not being available • Not owning the language >

26. NeedversusWant

27. Want versusNeed

28. Fear... that results in secret keeping... >

29. WE HAVE TO DO WHAT HE SAYS

30. Secret keeping... that requires lies... >

32. Lie telling ... that creates invisibility... >

34. Invisibility... that can destroy hope... >

36. Escaping.... but not always from risk... >

38. Emotional harm.... counting the cost.... Our emotions impact upon our: •productivity •relationships •creativity •achievements Emotions are vital to our social & personal existence. >

39. Connecting to our feelings is neither a soft, nor an easy option. Disconnecting from our feelings is not clever. The Antidote Manifesto, 2001. >

40. Learning to Cope Experiences cause us to feel ..........that’s how we know we’re experiencing something! Feelings cause us to think …………… our thoughts are unspoken mind words Mind words – frame the moment ............ and enable us to learn from an experience Resulting changes – arises from lessons learned ............ and behavior changes or adapts

41. Why doesn’t she just leave?