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How does the language used to describe family violence impact on our understandings of women’s experiences, and the responses that systems and services provide to those involved in family violence?

Date and time:

Session 1: Tuesday 10 November 2020, 1:00pm-3:30pm

Location:

Zoom videoconference. Link will be provided to registered attendees prior to the event.

About this event

Lirata Ltd, in partnership with La Trobe University, is pleased to invite you to a seminar and focus group discussing the way that the language used to describe family violence impacts on our understandings of women’s experiences, and the responses that systems and services provide to those involved in family violence.

This session includes:

  • A one hour seminar presenting recent research findings on the way that stakeholder discourses construct women’s role and agency within the dynamics of family violence
  • A focus group of up to 75 minutes discussing implications for policy and practice.

About the research

Current family violence policy in Victoria notes the importance of a shared understanding of the common purpose and language between services and service providers, as a basis for effective and integrated service responses. But to what extent is a shared language evidenced? What are the features of this language and how does it construct women’s role and agency within the dynamics of family violence?

This seminar will present findings from a recent study analysing documents relating to family violence in Victoria, including submissions to the Royal Commission on Family Violence, and sector documents. The research has particularly focused on the language used by a wide range of stakeholders within the legal and community services sectors. Key findings are that there is a disjunction between the overt and covert discourses in use. Analysis of covert discourses shows that these are unexpectedly consistent across stakeholder groups, and have troubling implications in positioning women as passive, disempowered and needy. This framing may undermine the ability of services and systems to provide responses that amplify women’s self-efficacy and agency.

This seminar and focus group will be a chance to reflect on these findings in relation to current service and system responses, and to explore implications for policy and practice.

The focus group is part of an ongoing research project led by Professor Tonya Stebbins (La Trobe University) and Dr Cara Penry Williams (University of Derby). The focus group will be recorded, and the focus group notes and recording will be analysed as part of the research. Your participation in the focus group is entirely voluntary. Additional participant information will be provided on the day, and your informed consent will be sought prior to commencement of the focus group.

The research has been approved by La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee.

Intended audience

People working in practice, policy and research roles in the Family Violence sector.

Specialist focus

Family violence
Women


Further information

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