Domestic violence is a continuing public health problem. Immigrant women facing domestic violence have additional challenges in dealing with domestic violence and accessing services. Hopeful thinking has been identified as a strategy for intervening and surviving beyond domestic violence. The purpose of this multiple descriptive case study was to explore hopeful thinking in Haitian immigrant women domestic abuse survivors' (HIDAS) conceptualizations of the future beyond domestic abuse. The framework for the study was resilience theory, which emphasizes the individual's ability to bounce back from stressful situations. This framework was used to investigate how HIDAS in the United States experience hopeful thinking and the role hopeful thinking plays in how they perceive the future. Four women participants were recruited from a Haitian community in Florida, and data were collected through interviews. Findings from content analysis showed that while each woman had a different strategy for how to get out of the abusive relationships, they became independent by hoping that things would change for the better. Although the interpretation of findings clarified these survivors' experiences of domestic abuse, the findings are not meant to solve the larger problem of domestic abuse. The study results may influence social change by informing development of operational hope-based community and trauma intervention services for HIDAS and other groups of immigrant women.

For centuries women have experienced domestic violence from men they know, as a consequence of which many turn to public services for support. Traditionally, these services have failed to provide adequate support, yet it is through these interactions with the services that abused women's lives are shaped and defined. Service providers therefore need to hear their voices in order to develop effective support services that enable survivors to 'move on' with their lives. A government initiative ¬- the Supporting People Programme (SPP) - has the potential to ensure that housing support providers develop their services in this manner. The main aim of the SPP is to place service users at the 'heart' of the system through user participation. Whilst this is certainly a step in the right direction, my concern is whether this actually happens or whether services adopt a tokenistic approach to user participation that marginalises and silences women survivors. My primary research question, therefore, is: 'What is the impact of the SPP on women survivors of domestic abuse?¿ Using a research design that included document analysis, observation and semi-structured interviews, I argue that the SPP has the potential to improve the lives of survivors and even to ameliorate, if not eradicate, domestic abuse. However, far from achieving this, the SPP through lack of commitment to ensuring that services actually meet the funding requirement of user participation continues to marginalise and silence the voices of women survivors.

Malmborn, M. Att synliggöra barn som bevittnar våld i nära relation. En kvalitativ studie om hur barn som bevittnar våld i nära relation framställs i rättsfallsreferat. Masteruppsats i Socialt arbete, 30 högskolepoäng. Malmö universitet: Fakulteten för hälsa och samhälle, institutionen för socialt arbete, 2024.  Syftet med studien är att granska barns delaktighet och aktörskap i rättsfall som anmälts till tingsrätten, hovrätten, och Högsta domstolen under perioden 1 januari 2020 till och med 13 mars 2022. Ett delsyfte är att undersöka vilken diskurs som är mest framträdande i rättsfallen. Frågan om barn som bevittnar brott lyftes redan år 2020 i Regeringens proposition 2020/21:170 men blev inte en lag fören den 1 juli 2021 (SFS 2021:397). Det är även denna lag som studien tar avstamp från. Lagen främjade barns rättsliga position och gjorde det olagligt att utsätta barn för att bevittna våld/brott i nära relation. Rättfallsreferaten analyseras med hjälp av studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt som är diskurspsykologi. För att uppnå syftet används den kvalitativa metoden diskurspsykologi. Analysen utgår från två teman för att skapa förståelse vilka är barns delaktighet och aktörskap. Analysen sätter sig även in i två diskurser som är omsorgsdiskursen och delaktighetsdiskursen. Studien har studerat barns delaktighet vilket resulterat i upptäckten att barn inte alltid får komma till tals, inte får den information de behöver för att vara delaktiga och att om barn är delaktiga så är deras utsaga inte alltid avgörande för fastställandet av beslutet. Barns aktörskap skildras främst i form av att barnets närvaro nämns men även genom aktivitet hos barnet. Det kan handla om att göra motstånd, sträva efter att få sin röst hörd eller att agera för att skydda sitt liv. Omsorgsdiskursen tar sig uttryck genom att den kan riskera att bli hämmande för barnet om ett för starkt fokus läggs på föräldraperspektivet och deras åsikter om barnets bästa istället för att göra barnet delaktigt. Delaktighetsdiskursen påvisas genom att det finns en del olika verktyg som kan användas för att skapa delaktighet hos ett barn. Det existerar en komplexitet i samverkan mellan diskurserna då barns rättigheter exempelvis i framställandet av barn som besitter ett stort behov av omsorg även ska ses som att vara en kompetent och delaktig aktör. Sammanfattningsvis pekar studiens resultat på hur komplext det sociala arbetet med barn som bevittnar våld i nära relation är och dokumentationens övergripande makt över barn i rättsprocesser. / Malmborn. M., to reveal children who witness domestic abuse. A qualitative inquiry of how children who witness domestic abuse is portrayed in legal case reports. A master’s thesis in Social Work, 30 Higher Education credit. Malmö university: Faculty of Health and Society, The Department of Social Work, 2024.  The purpose of the study is to review how children who witness domestic abuse is portrayed in legal cases reported to the District Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court during the period of January 1st, 2020, to March 13th, 2022. The issue of children witnessing crimes was already raised in 2020 in the Government's bill 2020/21:170 but did not become law until July 1, 2021 (2021:397). It is also this law that the study is based on. The act promoted children's legal position and made it illegal to expose children to witnessing violence/domestic abuse. The legal case reports were analyzed using the study’s theoretical starting point which is discursive psychology. The qualitative methods discursive analysis and discursive psychology is used to achieve the purpose of the study. The analysis emanates from two topics to obtain a comprehension of the empiricism which is children's participation and agency. The analysis also familiarize itself with two discourses which is the discourse of care and the discourse of participation. The study studied children's participation, which led to the discovery that they are not always allowed to speak, do not get the information they need to participate and if children are involved, their statement is not always decisive for determining the decision. Children’s agency is first and foremost depicted by the child's presence being mentioned but also through an act of the child. It could be an act of resistance, an aspiration to be heard or an act to protect one's life. The discourse of care appears to be a potential risk of inhibiting the child if excessive focus is put on the parent perspective and their views on what’s best for the child instead of involving the child. The discourse of participation is demonstrated through a few different tools which can be used to create participation with a child. There is a complexity to the cooperation between the discourses since children's rights for instance in the determination of children who have a great need for care also should be seen as a competent and participating part. In conclusion does the result of the study indicate how complex the social work with children who witness domestic abuse is and how the documentations overall governance of children in legal processes.

Yes / In this article we take a critical stance toward the rational progressive narrative surrounding the integration of domestic violence within health care. Whilst changes in recent UK policy and practice have resulted in several tangible benefits, it is argued that there may be hidden dilemmas and challenges. We suggest that the medical model of care and its discursive practices position women as individually accountable for domestic violence-related symptoms and injuries. This may not only be ineffective in terms of service provision but could also have the potential to reduce the political significance of domestic violence as an issue of concern for all women. Furthermore, it is argued that the use of specific metaphors enables practitioners to distance themselves from interactions that may prove to be less comfortable and provide less than certain outcomes. Our analysis explores the possibilities for change that might currently be available. This would appear to involve a consideration of alternative discourses and the reformulation of power relations and subject positions in health care.

This practicum project is an investigation into the design of a second-stage house and the role that interior design can play in creating a healing environment based on a trauma-informed approach. Approaching the design with a knowledge of the trauma of domestic abuse, the effects of this trauma, and the recovery process was central to the project. Through a process of literature review, four key themes in recovery of domestic abuse were found. The key themes of safety, empowerment, social support and psychological healing became the design guidelines for the project. Using these four guidelines as a foundation, concepts in environmental psychology were explored. The concepts of privacy, territory and restorative design were chosen for their relevance to the design guidelines. Through an exploration of these design concepts in conjunction with the four themes of recovery, a trauma-informed second-stage housing design called River Tree is proposed.

Domestic violence against women and children is a significant international issue. There are many obstacles survivors face, and the problem is more complex than is often perceived. This interior design practicum responds by focusing on the design of a transitional housing facility that creates a paradigm shift away from the institutional approach. The key interior spaces include areas that help individuals nourish and heal from their challenging experiences; the overall approach focused on establishing community networks amongst the residents. The overarching architectural language and designs were informed primarily by Japanese Zen, Theory of Supportive Design, Lifeboat theory, and Experiential Learning Theory. Additional literature investigation on Shinrin-yoku and Therapeutic Landscapes have helped to shape the final programme and design. Along with relevant precedent studies, a design has been proposed called Hana's Place, a transitional housing facility that is aimed at being a place survivors of domestic violence can call home.

This practicum project is an investigation into the design of a second-stage house and the role that interior design can play in creating a healing environment based on a trauma-informed approach. Approaching the design with a knowledge of the trauma of domestic abuse, the effects of this trauma, and the recovery process was central to the project. Through a process of literature review, four key themes in recovery of domestic abuse were found. The key themes of safety, empowerment, social support and psychological healing became the design guidelines for the project. Using these four guidelines as a foundation, concepts in environmental psychology were explored. The concepts of privacy, territory and restorative design were chosen for their relevance to the design guidelines. Through an exploration of these design concepts in conjunction with the four themes of recovery, a trauma-informed second-stage housing design called River Tree is proposed.

Domestic violence against women and children is a significant international issue. There are many obstacles survivors face, and the problem is more complex than is often perceived. This interior design practicum responds by focusing on the design of a transitional housing facility that creates a paradigm shift away from the institutional approach. The key interior spaces include areas that help individuals nourish and heal from their challenging experiences; the overall approach focused on establishing community networks amongst the residents. The overarching architectural language and designs were informed primarily by Japanese Zen, Theory of Supportive Design, Lifeboat theory, and Experiential Learning Theory. Additional literature investigation on Shinrin-yoku and Therapeutic Landscapes have helped to shape the final programme and design. Along with relevant precedent studies, a design has been proposed called Hana's Place, a transitional housing facility that is aimed at being a place survivors of domestic violence can call home.

This paper analyzes how female leaders affect the attitudes towards women in Nicaragua and Brazil. It discusses general and specific literature on the historical and current situations in each country. It analyzes the effects colonialism, culture, religion, traditions and the law have on the perceptions of women. The paper further analyzes and measures how past and current female leaders like President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro and President Dilma Rouseff affect people’s views towards women. The rates of violence against woman and domestic abuse in Nicaragua and Brazil are analyzed and compared to Latin America and the world. This paper argues that women in positions of leadership lead to changes in the general attitudes towards women, but it is not clear if women leaders decrease the rates of violence against women.

This study uses qualitative research consisting of six semi-structural interviews of treatment workers who, in various capacities, have worked with men who use violence against their female partners. The purpose has been to show what the treatment counselor understand to be the reasons behind the men’s violence, what kind of backgrounds and problems they believe these abusers have and, lastly, how they view the male abusers as clients. The empirical data was analyzed through four perspectives and explanatory models derived from the past thirty years of Scandinavian research on the reasons behind men’s violence against women. Connell’s theory of masculinity was used as a filter along with the four theoretical perspectives when interpreting the data. The study revealed that the respondents found no consistent group of men who abuse. The respondents brought up reasons such as possible earlier exposure to violence, fear of abandonment, jealousy, feelings of powerlessness, and failed expectations of gender roles to be some consistent causes behind the violence. In general, according to the treatment workers, the male abusers they encounter tend to struggle with their self-image and how they fulfill perceived male ideals.