[pt] Realizamos o presente estudo em uma ONG que trabalha com mulheres vítimas de violência domestica, localizada no município de Duque de Caxias, o CDVida-Centro de Defesa da Vida, no período de agosto à dezembro de 2004. O nosso objetivo foi identificar na trajetória de vida dessas mulheres, os motivos que as levaram a permanecer tanto tempo em situação de violência, qual o fato que contribuiu para a quebra do silencio e em que momento elas decidiram procurar ajuda. O levantamento nos arquivos da instituição, do perfil demográfico de 60 mulheres atendidas no primeiro semestre de 2003, nos revelou o grande número de mulheres que permaneciam em situação de violência após longo período de vida em comum. Partindo desse estudo inicial, escolhemos entrevistar algumas mulheres vítimas de violência por parte de seus parceiros íntimos e que ainda se encontravam em atendimento pela equipe técnica do CDVida, objetivando entender os motivos que levaram a permanecer por tanto tempo convivendo com seus parceiros violentos. As informações colhidas nas entrevistas nos possibilitou conhecermos a percepção das mulheres em relação a violência sofrida; as conseqüências da mesma e as dificuldades enfrentadas para romper com a relação. A análise dessas informações nos levou ao entendimento de que a violência doméstica entre parceiros íntimos, é revestida de um caráter muito especial, uma vez que envolve além de laços de intimidade e afeto, na maioria dos casos, a presença dos filhos do casal, que sofrem da mesma maneira que suas mães, as conseqüências da violência. Concluímos ainda a partir dessa análise, que romper com a violência significa romper com a própria dinâmica do seu ciclo que aprisiona e paralisa a mulher. Para romper com esse ciclo, é necessário não só que a mulher encontre apoio para a superação de suas dificuldades individuais , mas também respostas institucionais para que possa exercer plenamente seus direitos enquanto cidadã. / [en] We carried out the present study in an NGO which works women, who are victims of violence in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, the CDVida - Centro de Defesa da Vida ( Center for Protection of life), from Aug to Dec 2004. Our aim was to identify the trajectory of life of these women, the reasons which led them to stay so long in situation of violence, the fact which contributed to breaking the silence, and in which moment they decided to look for help.The data found in the institution files, of a demographic profile of 60 women, trated in the first semester of 2003, revealed the great number of women who remained in situation of violence, after long living together. Starting from this initial study, we chose to interview some women, victimized by their intimate partners, and who were still under treatment by the technical team of CDVida, aiming at understanding the reasons for remaining so long, living with their violent partners. The information colleded from interviews made it possible to know the perception of the women in relation to the violence suffered: the consequences of this, and the hardships found in breaking up the relationship.The analysis of this information led us to understand that domestic violence between intimate partners is characterized in a very special manner, since it involves, besides the ties of intimacy and affection, in most cases, the presence of children of the couple, who suffer in the same way as their mothers, the consequences of violence. Furthermore, we concluded, from this analysis, that ending with violence means ending with the own dynamics of its cycle, which controls and paralyses the woman. To end up this cycle, it is necessary that the woman is not only supported to overcome her individual difficulties, but also find institutional answers in order to carry out thoroughly her rights as citizens.

This master thesis study examines Kyrgyz-language music videos to explore the visual representation of women, including women experiencing gender-based violence. It addresses a gap in the literature regarding women in Kyrgyz music videos and argues that media communicates context-specific meaning about gendered cultural realities. Following an inductive and qualitative research design, the study conducts a social semiotic analysis of 22 Kyrgyz-language music videos focusing on what and how meaning about women is created through visual content. The study analyzes its material through the lens of cultural representation theory (Hall et al., 2013) and discusses its findings in relation to Okin’s (1989) feminist critique regarding gendered vulnerabilities. It finds that women in Kyrgyz music videos are represented within familial roles. The study argues that the “ideal” Kyrgyz woman, as embodied through female main characters, is portrayed as young, beautiful, and good of character, while marriage, motherhood, and domesticity are connoted as life goals. Women experiencing violence are represented as vulnerable to domestic violence and bride abduction.

[pt] Todos os dias meninas e mulheres são vítimas de algum tipo de violência simplesmente por pertencerem ao gênero feminino. Diante disso, afirma-se que a violência contra a mulher é historicamente um problema social, com abrangência mundial. A perspectiva teórica adotada neste estudo compreende que tais violações são perpetuadas em razão da cultura machista e patriarcal que subsidiou as relações sociais, naturalizando de tal maneira a dominação masculina, que esta se tornou incontestável. Destarte, o objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar se, e como, adolescentes compreendem os reflexos culturais do machismo como violências sofridas por mulheres atualmente. No que tange à metodologia, o instrumento utilizado para produção de dados primários foi a entrevista semiestruturada, o método de análise, a interpretação de sentidos e o campo de pesquisa, o Núcleo de Estudos da Saúde do Adolescente, unidade docente-assistencial da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os resultados da pesquisa evidenciaram que adolescentes observam no seu cotidiano expressões do machismo e de violências de gênero, não apresentando em seus discursos a culpabilização das vítimas e manifestando incômodo com a hierarquia social entre homens e mulheres. Entretanto, considerando que estão imersos em um contexto cultural hegemonicamente machista, também reproduzem concepções e valores conversadores, legitimados socialmente, acerca das relações desiguais entre os gêneros nos espaços públicos e as violências que atingem as mulheres todos os dias. / [en] Everyday girls and women are victims of some type of violence simply because they belong to the female gender. In view of this, it is stated that violence against women is historically a social problem, with a worldwide scope. The theoretical perspective adopted in this study understands that such violations are perpetuated due to the macho and patriarchal culture that subsidized social relations, naturalizing male domination in such a way that it became uncontested. Thus, the objective of this research is to analyze whether and how adolescents understand the cultural reflexes of machismo as violence suffered by women today. Thus, the objective of this research is to analyze whether and how adolescents understand the cultural reflexes of machismo as violence suffered by women today. With regard to the methodology, the instrument used to produce primary data was the semi-structured interview, the method of analysis, the interpretation of meanings and the research field, the Nucleus of Studies on Adolescent Health, a teaching-assistance unit at the University of Rio de Janeiro state. The research results showed that adolescents observe expressions of machismo and gender violence in their daily lives, not presenting in their speeches blaming the victims and expressing discomfort with the social hierarchy between men and women. However, considering that they are immersed in a hegemonically sexist cultural context, they also reproduce conversational concepts and values, socially legitimized, about the unequal relations between genders in public spaces and the violence that affect women every day.

Syftet med denna uppsats var att ge en bild av kunskapsläget kring våld i nära relationer och då specifikt det våld som drabbar kvinnor i relationer med män. I fokus för uppsatsen hamnade forskningsfrågorna varför kvinnor stannar i parrelationer där våld förekommer och vad som möjliggör för kvinnor att lämna en relation där våld förekommer. Studier baserade på kvalitativa intervjuer med respondenter som har erfarenhet av våld i nära relation analyserades. Som utgångspunkt för att tolka resultaten, antogs tre olika teoretiska perspektiv vilka var följande: normaliseringsprocessen, uppbrottsprocessen och ett intersektionellt perspektiv. Genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys, utröntes de tre olika teman: resurser, kultur, samt makt och normalisering. Faktorerna som påverkar våldsutsatta kvinnors beslut att stanna i eller lämna en våldsam relation, visade sig bland annat kunna vara resurser i form av utbildning, ekonomi, materiellt och emotionellt stöd från samhällets instanser, frivilligorganisationer samt stöd från nära vänner och familj. Kulturella övertygelser och känslomässig förbindelse till förövaren visade sig också vara påverkande faktorer. Slutsatser som kunde dras från denna uppsats var att stödet som erbjuds kvinnorna är en grundförutsättning, samt det viktiga arbetet att informera om det stöd som finns och vart den utsatta kan vända sig. Det går sedan inte att påskynda kvinnans process att lämna, utan det måste vara kvinnas eget beslut då kvinnan är redo. / The purpose of this essay was to provide an image of the state of knowledge regarding violence in intimate relationships and specifically the violence that affects women in relationships with men. The essay focused on the research questions why women stay in couple relationships where violence occurs and what makes it possible for women to leave a relationship where violence occurs. Studies based on qualitative interviews who have experience of violence in a close relationship were analyzed.  As a starting point for interpreting the results, three different perspectives were adopted which were the following: the normalization process, the break- up process and an intersectional perspective. Through a qualitative content analysis, the three different themes of resources, culture and power and normalization were found. The factors that influence the abused women´s decision to stay in or leave a violent relationship were found to be, among other things, resources in the form of education, finances, material and emotional support from both society´s bodies, voluntary organizations as well as support from close friends and family. Cultural beliefs and emotional connection to the perpetrator were also found to be influencing factors. Conclusions that could be drawn from this essay were that the support offered to women is a basic prerequisite, as well as the important work of informing about the support that is available and where the vulnerable can turn. It is then not possible to speed up the woman´s process of leaving, it must be the woman´s own decision when the woman is ready.

This study is based on the statistical finding that every tenth women in Sweden refrains to go outside alone in their own residential area when it is dark because they are afraid (BRÅ 2015:88) and strives to discuss this problem further. The purpose of this study is to argue that there is a need to address women’s fear of sexual violence as a human rights concern in Sweden. Women’s ability to enjoy their human rights is restricted by their fear and the normalization of women’s fear contributes to this problem. Furthermore, Martha Nussbaum’s capability approach and her theoretical understanding of emotions enable an understanding of how the concept of bodily integrity is affected by women’s fear. Women’s fear of sexual violence can be understood as a problem of social inequality that is affected by the underlying structures of gender inequality. Therefore, it is essential to identify the nature of the attitudes that tend to undermine women and result in violence against women. The fear of sexual violence is dependent on the occurrence of violence against women, which is a human rights violation. However, the fear of sexual violence is not a human rights violation yet it should be understood as a human rights concern.

An extensive body of knowledge points to the intersection of violence against women and HIV as it is well-established that violence is ubiquitous in the lives of women living with HIV. Experiences of violence exist within a socio-legal context that criminalizes HIV non-disclosure. In Canada, the federal law requires people living with HIV to disclose their HIV positive status before a sexual encounter with a partner that may pose, according to the Supreme Court of Canada, a “realistic possibility of transmission.” The criminalization of HIV non-disclosure carries particularly negative consequences for women living with HIV. This thesis includes an analysis of data from the Women, ART, and the Criminalization of HIV (WATCH) Study, a qualitative, arts-based research study on the impact of the HIV non-disclosure law on women living with HIV in Canada. Grounded in an intersectional feminist framework, this thesis presents findings from the narrative and visual data collected from the three Ontario workshops in the WATCH study. This thesis explores how women living with HIV visually and narratively express and describe their experiences of violence in the context of the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure. The stories and artwork shared by participants demonstrate how the law used to criminalize HIV non-disclosure creates and exacerbates experiences of interpersonal and structural violence and surveillance in the lives of women living with HIV. This thesis offers important insights for reconceptualising violence against women living with HIV from a structural lens. This project demonstrates how violence stems from legal institutions that do not respond to the needs of women, and instead, further exacerbate marginalization, violence, and surveillance in the lives of women living with HIV. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

This project sheds light on men's choice in the face of threats to their masculinity: to compensate to appear more masculine or to revise their definitions of manhood. Research has demonstrated that men overcompensate in their displays of masculinities when faced with challenges to their dominant status. However, not all men pursue dominant displays of masculinity through heterosexuality: Older men (85+) may abandon ideals of masculinity tied to sexual dominance as they once did in middle age. This dissertation weaves together men's three distinct pursuits of dominant manhood: approval of violence against women (AVAW), changes to sexual function in old age (i.e., flaccidity or erectile dysfunction), and sugar dating (i.e., dating between younger women and an older man, in which money is exchanged for intimacy). I show that men's use of compensatory heterosexuality offers them a way to do gender when confronted with threatened masculinity in the form(s) of subordination to women, sexual dysfunction, and older age. In each project, men rely on displays of heterosexual dominance and objectification of women as a compensatory means to do masculinity. However, their reliance on heterosexuality is subject to change under such conditions as older age, which can lead to revisions of manhood. / Doctor of Philosophy / This project sheds light on men's choices in the face of gender threats: to compensate to appear more masculine or to revise or change their definitions of manhood. Research has demonstrated that men overdo their displays of masculinity when faced with challenges. However, not all men do this: Older men (85+) may move away from a masculinity tied to sexual displays as they once did in middle age. This dissertation weaves together three displays of masculinity: approval of violence against women (AVAW), changes to sexual function in old age (i.e., flaccidity or erectile dysfunction), and sugar dating (i.e., dating between a younger woman and an older man in which money is exchanged for emotional and physical relationships). These avenues offer men a way to perform their masculinities when confronted with threats in the form(s) of subordination to women (i.e., women in power over you), sexual dysfunction, and older age. In each project, men rely on displays of sexual dominance and objectification of women to perform masculinity (when compensating). However, their reliance on these displays is subject to change under certain conditions (when revising manhood).

The aim of this study is to find out the resources and support actions the social services in Stockholm offer women who are abused by men in partnerships and how the social workers experience their room to maneuver in order to help these women. In order to answer the aim of the study, we have analyzed interviews with staff who works in social services, specifically in family violence centers. To interpret our empirical data, we have used four different theories. These are power, empowerment, organizational theory and violence normalization process. The results of the study show that social services offer these abused women two types of aid and support; acute and long term support actions. The emergency/acute interventions are mainly sheltered housing. Long-term assistance efforts include counseling, housing priority, financial assistance and the protection of personal data. The results show that the social workers work is based on different methods and action plans in order to help abused women. Their work builds mainly upon the National Board of health and welfare guidelines and the social services law. However, their work is also based on motivational interviewing, CBT, SOC and empowerment. The results show that there are flaws in their work. Cooperation between various organizations, such as police and medical services are unsatisfactory. Time and resources in terms of money are insufficient to spread the knowledge about the problems and follow-up of cases after the end of a case.

Thesis (PhD (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Domestic violence crosses all boundaries and is regarded as a universal challenge affecting women of all spheres of life. Domestic violence is seen as a serious social problem in South Africa. It is regarded by many researchers as a leading cause of female injury. Domestic violence can be described as an act by a member of a family against another member with intent to do physical injury, psychological or emotional harm, or an assault or a threat that reasonably places that member in fear of imminent physical injury or emotional harm. It has major consequences, not only for the abused woman, but also for her children and society at large. Many low-income women cannot escape their abusive circumstances due to a lack of resources. Despite the fact that they cannot leave their situation, many women display certain strengths, helping them to deal with their difficult situation. These women can be viewed as heroic, assertive and persistent. They are not victims, but active survivors. The social work profession could benefit from greater insight into the strengths and coping mechanisms of low-income female survivors of domestic violence. The goal of the study is to gain an understanding of low-income female survivors’ experience of domestic violence, focusing on their environmental resources (including family, friends and community) and on their coping mechanisms (inner resources/strengths). To achieve this goal, the objectives are: to present a theoretical overview of the nature and extent of domestic violence; to describe the environmental resources (such as family, friends and community) of low-income abused women from the ecological perspective; to explore the coping mechanisms (inner resources) of these women in terms of the principles of the strengths perspective; and to analyse and interpret the data obtained from the study. The research utilises an exploratory and descriptive design. The research question is, “What are the experience (environmental resources) and coping mechanisms (inner resources) of lowincome female survivors of domestic violence?” This question was addressed by means of qualitative research. Twenty participants took part in the study. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to select the participants. They were interviewed by the researcher, and the data obtained from the interviews were organised into themes. Five themes namely, the experience of domestic violence, low-income, resources, coping mechanisms and statutory intervention were identified. These themes were further divided into sub-themes and categories. Conclusions derived from the data included: domestic violence is a phenomenon that cuts across all racial, marital status or age boundaries; some low-income female survivors of domestic violence experience their situation as stressful; low-income is one of the determining factors preventing some abused women to leave their situation; resources play a significant part in the lives of some low-income abused women; certain strengths from some low-income battered women help them cope; and some abused low-income women do not find an Interim Protection Order (IPO) or the police to be helpful. The recommendations are that social workers should assess primary, secondary and tertiary intervention in dealing with domestic violence; the ecological and strengths perspectives combined would be helpful in assessing resources and coping mechanisms in low-income abused women and collaboration between social workers, the court and the police could help low-income abused women to use statutory services effectively. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesinsgeweld ken geen grense nie en word beskou as ’n universele bedreiging vir vroue uit alle sektore van die samelewing. Gesinsgeweld word beskou as ’n ernstige maatskaplike probleem in Suid-Afrika. Dit word deur baie navorsers beskou as ’n hoofoorsaak van vrouebeserings. Gesinsgeweld kan beskou word as ’n daad deur een lid van die gesin teen ’n ander wat gemik is op fisieke skade, sielkundige of emosionele teistering, of ’n aanval of ’n dreigement wat die lid van die gesin laat vrees vir fisieke beserings of emosionele skade. Dit het grootskaalse gevolge, nie net vir die mishandelde vrou nie, maar ook vir haar kinders en vir die breër gemeenskap. Baie lae-inkomste vroue kan nie uit hulle gewelddadige situasie ontsnap nie, vanweë beperkte bronne. Nieteenstaande die feit dat baie vroue nie hul huidige omstandighede kan ontkom nie, toon hulle sekere sterktes wat hulle help in hulle moeilike omstandighede. Hierdie vroue kan beskou word as heldinne wat nie tou opgooi nie. Hulle is nie slagoffers nie, maar oorleef aktief [Engels: “active survivors”]. Die maatskaplikewerkprofessie kan baat by groter insig in die sterktes en hanteringsvaardighede van lae-inkomste vroue wat gesinsgeweld oorleef. Die doel van die studie is om groter insig te verkry in lae-inkomste vroue se ervaring van gesinsgeweld, veral hulle omgewingsfaktore (insluitende familie, vriende en gemeenskap) en van hulle hanteringsmeganismes (innerlike bronne/sterktes). Om hierdie doel te bereik, is die doelwitte: om ’n teoretiese aanbieding van die aard en omvang van gesinsgeweld te gee; om die omgewingsbronne (soos familie, vriende en gemeenskap) van lae-inkomste mishandelde vroue te verduidelik; om die hanteringsmeganismes (innerlike bronne) van hierdie vroue te eksploreer in terme van die beginsels van die sterkte perspektief; en om die data van die studie te analiseer en te interpreteer. Die navorsingsontwerp is eksploratief-beskrywend van aard. Die navorsingsvraag lui soos volg: “Wat is die ervaring (omgewingsfaktore) en hanteringsmeganismes (innerlike bronne) van lae-inkomste vroue wat gesinsgeweld te bowe kom?” Die vraag is aangespreek deur middel van kwalitatiewe navorsing. Twintig deelnemers het deelgeneem aan die studie. Doelgerigte- en sneeubal steekproeftegnieke is gebruik om die deelnemers te verkry. Die navorser het met hulle onderhoude gevoer en die data wat verkry is, is georganiseer in temas. Vyf temas, naamlik die ervaring van gesinsgeweld; lae inkomste; bronne; hanteringsmeganismes; en statutêre intervensie is geïdentifiseer. Die temas is in subtemas en kategorieë onderverdeel. Gevolgtrekkings wat gemaak is uit die data is: gesinsgeweld is ’n verskynsel wat alle ras-, huwelikstatus- of ouderdomsgrense oorskry; sekere lae-inkomste vroulike oorwinnaars van gesinsgeweld ervaar hulle situasie as stresvol; hulpbronne speel ’n betekenisvolle rol in die lewens van sommige lae-inkomste mishandelde vroue; sekere sterktes van lae-inkomste mishandelde vroue help hulle om die situasie te hanteer; en sekere lae-inkomste, mishandelde vroue vind nie ’n Interim Beskermingsbevel (IB) of die polisie as hulpvaardig nie. Die aanbevelings is dat maatskaplike werkers primêre, sekondêre en tersiêre intervensie behoort te assesseer by gesinsgeweld; die ekologiese en sterktes perspektiewe behoort saam aangewend te word om die omgewingsbronne en hanteringsmeganismes van lae-inkomste mishandelde vroue te ondersoek; en samewerking tussen maatskaplike werkers, die hof en polisie kan lae-inkomste mishandelde vroue help om statutêre dienste beter te benut.

<p>The aim of this thesis was to explore the impact of physical, sexual and emotional violence against women of reproductive age and the level of controlling behaviour in marriage on child health and survival in two different cultural settings: Bangladesh and Nicaragua. </p><p>Data were acquired from four quantitative community-based studies. In two studies, a cohort including a prospective two year follow-up of 3164 mother-infant pairs in rural Bangladesh was investigated. A third study was a case-referent study in Nicaragua including mothers of 110 cases of under-five deaths and 203 referents, and in a forth study an other cohort of 1048 rural Bangladeshi women and their 2691 children was followed until 5 years of age. </p><p>Maternal exposure to any form of violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, and controlling behaviour was independently associated with lower body size at birth, increased risk of stunting and under-weight at 24 months of age, slower growth velocity during the first two years of life and a higher incidence of diarrhoeal episodes and respiratory tract infections. In the Nicaraguan setting, the children of women who experienced any history of physical violence had a two-fold increase in risk of death before the age of 5 years, and those whose mothers experienced both physical and sexual violence had a six-fold increase in risk of death. In Bangladesh, an association between violence against women and under-five mortality was found among daughters of educated mothers who were exposed to severe physical violence or a high level of controlling behaviour in marriage. In all four studies, lifetime violence experience among participating mothers was high (37-69%), and the timing was less relevant than the exposure to violence <i>per se</i>. </p><p>In conclusion, this investigation revealed that violence against women severely affects child health and survival. The findings are especially relevant in a context of high level of child under-nutrition, morbidity and under-five mortality. Efforts for protecting women from all forms of violence are needed as part of the interventions for improved child health.</p>