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The Problem: Men’s Violence Against Women

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Engaging Men and Boys in Violence Prevention

Part of the book series: Global Masculinities ((GLMAS))

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Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of men’s violence against women, noting its character, typical dynamics, impacts, and causes. It begins by noting debates over how to define violence and particular forms of violence. The chapter summarises what is known about the causes of men’s violence against women, highlighting that this violence is grounded above all in the meanings, practices, and relations associated with gender. Flood highlights contemporary debates in scholarship and advocacy over men’s violence against women. These include debates over definitions, and the chapter argues for an understanding of domestic violence for example which moves beyond discrete physically aggressive acts to a broader conceptualisation which includes a range of strategies of coercive control enacted by one person against another. The chapter highlights further trends including growing recognition of diverse forms of violence, examination of the structural foundations of men’s violence against women, and shifts in violence against women itself.

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Flood, M. (2019). The Problem: Men’s Violence Against Women. In: Engaging Men and Boys in Violence Prevention. Global Masculinities. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-44208-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-44208-6_2

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