Violence and Abuse in Intimate Dating Relationships

386 Pages·2010·1.67 MB·English

Violence and Abuse in Intimate Dating
Relationships: a Study of Young People(cid:146)s
Attitudes, Perceptions and Experiences

Morven Macnab

Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy
Department of Applied Social Science
University of Stirling
2010
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There are a number of people to whom I extend my thanks for their contribution to
making the completion of this thesis possible.

I have been incredibly fortunate to have had the unfaltering support of my supervisors,
Margaret Malloch, Rona Woodward and Kate Cavanagh. Kate passed away before the
thesis was completed, but her enthusiasm and encouragement remained invaluable. I
owe Margaret and Rona much gratitude and thank them for their commitment and
kindness. I am inspired by their knowledge and passion for learning, and leave them
full of admiration and with the hope of putting into practice all I have learned from
them in whichever roles come my way.

My parents, Rosemary and Peter have nurtured and supported me in every way
imaginable, and I thank them for their belief in me and for keeping me going when the
task seemed overwhelming. I thank Andrew for his never ending patience,
understanding and genuine encouragement, particularly in the latter stages of my study
where our free time became so limited. My thanks also go to Alastair, my brother and
great friend, for his enthusiasm and for keeping my spirits up throughout.

My PhD colleagues Oona Brooks and Carole Anderson are also owed special thanks for
their friendship and support.

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I gratefully acknowledge the funding received from the Economic and Social Research
Council.

Finally, this study would not have been possible without the participation of the 45
young men and women who provided the backbone of my project. Their engagement
with me in discussing their personal insights and experiences was so valuable, and I
extend my sincere thanks.

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ABSTRACT
Since the issue of dating violence emerged onto the research agenda in the 1980s,
researchers have focused upon measuring the prevalence of physical violence occurring
in young people(cid:146)s intimate relationships, using quantitative methods. Surveys, which
have limited young people(cid:146)s reporting to stating whether or not they have perpetrated or
sustained any of a fixed range of predetermined violent acts, have formed the dominant
methodological approach. In the main, dating violence studies have focused on
researching university students in the United States of America, and young people not
attending American universities are an under-researched population in the dating
violence literature. The dearth of qualitative approaches to past studies of dating
violence has meant that young people(cid:146)s own accounts of their experiences, attitudes and
perceptions of dating violence and abuse have been afforded minimal focus. Feminist
theoretical approaches to dating violence research are now emerging, contributing a
valuable gendered analysis of the issues.

Through qualitative interviews with forty five young people aged 16-21 (23 men and 22
women), recruited primarily from a Further Education college and an organisation
working with young people not in education, employment or training, this thesis
explores young people(cid:146)s attitudes, perceptions and experiences of violence and abuse in
intimate dating relationships, through a feminist theoretical lens. The study is couched
in a rich body of feminist empirical and theoretical literature, which conceptualises
intimate partner violence as primarily an issue of men(cid:146)s violence against women,
perpetrated with the rationale of maintaining power and control. The impact that
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popular theoretical discourses of gender equality and female empowerment may have
upon young people(cid:146)s capacity to acknowledge ongoing gender inequalities is also
considered in this thesis.

The findings of the current research indicate that young people(cid:146)s dating relationships
(and experiences of heterosexuality in general) reflect ongoing gender inequalities
which are influenced to a great extent by patriarchal modes of power and control. The
accounts of young men and women in this study established dating relationships as
sites of imbalanced gender power, with many modes of men(cid:146)s power control,
surveillance and monitoring of their girlfriends described as (cid:145)normal(cid:146) and acceptable.
There was a widespread perception among the participants that dating violence is an
issue of (cid:145)mutual combat(cid:146) where women are just as likely as men to be perpetrators,
even though their experiences of dating violence largely reflected the pattern of female
victims and male perpetrators. In regard to violence against women by men, many of
the participants perceived men(cid:146)s violence to be understandable in the face of women(cid:146)s
provocation, particularly in cases where women are perceived to be (cid:145)cheating(cid:146). For a
significant minority of young people, intimate relationships are sites of violence and
abuse, with women disproportionately the victims.

The findings from this study indicate a lack of awareness of the avenues of support that
can be accessed by young people experiencing dating violence and abuse. The findings
also highlight a requirement for direct educative strategies to challenge some young
people(cid:146)s support for men(cid:146)s violence against women.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One: Introduction
Introduction(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 9
Research priorities(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 9
Research aims(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)11
A feminist approach(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)...15
The researcher(cid:146)s background and rationale(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 20
Thesis structure(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 26
Chapter summary(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 27

Chapter Two: Review of the Dating Violence Literature, Policies and
Interventions
Introduction(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)28
Development of dating violence onto the research agenda(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)30
Definitions of dating violence across the literature(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)31
Research populations(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 32
Methodological approaches(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)34
Explanations for dating violence(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).42
Young people(cid:146)s experiences of, and responses to, dating violence(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 46
Young people(cid:146)s attitudes(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 51
Dating violence and abuse: awareness, prevention, interventions and support..........58
Dilemmas in dating violence interventions and prevention(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 68
Young people(cid:146)s perspectives on support and interventions(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)71
Chapter summary(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)72

Chapter Three: Theoretical Perspectives on Gendered Power and Control in
Intimate Relationships
Introduction(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)76
Feminist thought and action(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)...79
Theorising the mechanisms of power and control within intimate
relationships: Foucault and Feminism(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).90
Intimate relationships transformed? Individualism, equality, and the (cid:145)pure(cid:146)
Relationship(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).102
Young women in the (cid:145)guise of equality(cid:146)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)...109
Dating relationships: located among competing discourses of individualism,
and heterosexual success and gender performance(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)113
Reframing inequality: the case of violence and control(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)118
Masculinities(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)..122
Chapter summary(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)...128

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Chapter Four: Methodology and Methods
Introduction(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 130
A (cid:145)feminist(cid:146) methodological approach(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 130
Feminist research with men(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 133
Developing the methodological approach(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 135
Sampling and participation criteria(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 137
Access and recruitment(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 141
Recruitment of participants(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 147
The interviews(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 151
After the interviews(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)170
Chapter summary(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)178

Introduction to the Findings Chapters(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 179

Chapter Five: Relationships
Introduction(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 181
Dating relationships: gendered differences in attitudes and experiences(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 182
The interconnectedness of intimate relationships and the peer network(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)188
The peer network: setting the standards of heterosexual success(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 190
Balancing dating relationships with friendships(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 197
Young people(cid:146)s desires, expectations and experiences of dating partners and
relationships(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 204
Double standards: (cid:145)normal(cid:146) male heterosexuality vs. the (cid:145)wrong kind of girl(cid:146)(cid:133)(cid:133) 211
Performing femininity: young women(cid:146)s efforts not to be mistaken for the
(cid:145)wrong kind of girl(cid:146)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 218
Cheating(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 221
Relationships as sites of power and control(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)...225
Resistance(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 239
Chapter summary(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 241

Chapter Six: Dating Violence and Abuse: Young People(cid:146)s Attitudes,
Awareness and Perceptions
Introduction(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 243
Awareness of intimate partner violence(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 244
Dating violence and abuse: understandings and definitions(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 247
Perceptions of gender in dating violence: perpetrators and victims(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 255
Views on why dating violence occurs(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 263
Views on what victims of violence should do(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)279
Perceptions of external support and interventions for victims(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)...283
What should happen to violent perpetrators? ............................................................ 287
Chapter Summary(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 288

7
Chapter Seven: Dating Violence and Abuse: Young People(cid:146)s Experiences
Introduction(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 289
Experiences of violence and abuse(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 291
Gendered differences in the nature of dating violence and abuse(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 292
Victims(cid:146) responses to dating violence and abuse(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 299
Perpetrators(cid:146) responses to dating violence and abuse(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 307
The responses of friends and peers(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 308
Chapter summary(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 319

Chapter Eight: Discussion and Conclusions
Introduction(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 321
The current research(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 321
Research findings(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 326
Recommendations(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133).. 332
Strengths, limitations and logical next steps for dating violence research(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133) 334
Concluding reflections(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)... 336

Appendices
Appendix I: Letter to Further Education college(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 339
Appendix II: Letter to organisation for young people in NEET category(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 342
Appendix III: Aide Memoire(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)..345
Appendix IV: Research information sheet for participants(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)350
Appendix V: List of useful contacts for participants(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)..354
Appendix VI: Table of participant details................................................................. 358

Bibliography(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133)(cid:133). 360

8
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION

Introduction
This thesis explores violence and abuse in intimate dating relationships, focusing on
young people(cid:146)s attitudes, perceptions and experiences. In this chapter the study(cid:146)s
research aims, questions, and feminist theoretical grounding are introduced. It is the
aim of this chapter to offer transparency on the study(cid:146)s origins, design and process;
tracking the development of my initial research interest in violence against women, to
the narrower focus of dating violence and abuse. Direction is also provided on the
structure of the thesis, and on how this study contributes to the existing body of dating
violence research; most notably through the employment of qualitative methods and a
feminist theoretical perspective, in a research field dominated by positivist approaches.
Some detail is offered on the researcher(cid:146)s background and the personal process of
developing a feminist standpoint, as a young researcher in a social climate where
gender equality and female empowerment are often taken for granted. It is hoped that
this discussion assists in contextualising the perspective from which the study has been
undertaken.

Research Priorities
As chapter two of this thesis establishes, much previous dating violence research has
focused on measuring the scale of physical violence among populations of university
students in the United States of America. Participants(cid:146) responses have typically been
9
limited to stating whether or not they have experienced any of the physically violent
acts listed on pre-determined inventories drawn up by survey researchers. This
approach is restricted by the lack of focus upon young people’s own perspectives and
experiences. While feminist domestic violence researchers have made clear distinctions
between men and women(cid:146)s experiences of intimate partner violence, establishing
women as the primary victims and men the primary perpetrators (e.g. Dobash and
Dobash, 1979, Mooney, 2000b), gendered analyses of dating violence and abuse have
not been characteristic of past studies. Additionally, young people outside of American
university populations have been largely omitted from the research focus.

These observations of the existing literature led to the development of three central
research priorities for the conduct of the study. Firstly, in order to advance the focus of
attention beyond American university populations, the decision was taken to conduct
dating violence research with young men and women in Scotland, and to recruit the
participants from a range of sites not limited to Higher Education. To this end, 45
young people aged 16-21 years old participated in the research (22 women and 23
men). The second priority was to maximise the extent to which young people(cid:146)s voices
could be heard throughout all stages of the research process, by attempting to diminish
hierarchies of power between the researcher and the participants, and by encouraging
young people to report their attitudes, perceptions and experiences from their own
frame of reference and in their own terms. Concurrent with this, this study avoided
imposing rigid definitional criteria for violence, abuse and control upon the
participants, and semi-structured qualitative interviews were selected to maximise the
10