1st Edition

Engendering Violence Heterosexual Interpersonal Violence from Childhood to Adulthood

By Myra J. Hird Copyright 2002
    150 Pages
    by Routledge

    150 Pages
    by Routledge

    Bringing together unique international research from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Europe, this book presents a detailed examination of the violence perpetrated by males and females within the context of childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Based on illuminating empirical studies it accurately locates the societal implications of violence against males and females as well as the legal, social and public responses to violence. Combining feminism and a related analysis of power, the book provides an introduction to the study of violence in general, and violence against males and females who know each other in particular. It outlines the major evolutionary, psychological, and sociological theories proposed to explain this social problem and the traditional methods of studying this topic. The book also examines child violence - in the playground, the classroom and the home; adolescent dating violence and adult violence, both male and female, within cohabiting and marital relationships and violence occurring between strangers.

    Contents: Mapping the discourse of heterosexual interpersonal violence; Theoretical challenges to the study of heterosexual interpersonal violence; Learning the difference that gender makes; Heteronormativity and sexual coercion: adolescents practicing gender; Investing in masculinity: men who use interpersonal violence; Investing in difference: violent women and masculinity in disguise?; Engendering violence?; Bibliography; Index.

    Biography

    Myra J. Hird, Dr, School of Sociology and Social Policy, Queen's University, Belfast, UK UKBA (Western, 1985), BSW (Windsor, 1990), MSW (McGill, 1992), D.Phil. (Oxford, 1996). 1995-1996 Temporary Lecturer, Oxford University; 1996-1999 Lecturer, Auckland University; 2000-present Lecturer, Queen's University Belfast. Co-editor of Sociology for the Asking (Oxford University Press, forthcoming) as well as over twenty articles on various topics including gender, sexuality and violence.

    ’This book provides an accessible overview of violence perpetrated by men and women on people they know. It provides a timely synthesis and critique of key feminist and power-focused debates on violence, using illustrative examples as well as rich ethnographic data. Undergraduate students with any interest in trying to conceptualize and understand violence will find many gems in this resonant text.’ Dr George Pavlich, Professor of Sociology, University of Alberta, Canada. ’Whether a student in the social sciences, or a professional in the social services, this book is essential reading for understanding the gendered nature of violence in personal relationships across the life span.’ Dr Sue Jackson, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand 'This book, while a 2002 publication, comes at a good time as we see major theoretical shifts in gender and interpersonal violence theories. Drawing from a number of post-structural and post-modern theories, this book adds to the discourse around there being an essential masculinity. It argues that behaviour is more likely to be configured by social, political and cultural discourses, rather than biology... I found this book a good read in relation to exploring at a more complex level the issues that present in the lives of the clients every day... The target audience is clearly an academic one and in that regard it stands up well to the rigor of academic scrutiny... This book does invite us to explore further many of the cornerstones of existing conceptualisation of heterosexual interpersonal violence.' Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work