Please note that there are two different conference venues: June 14/15 - Century City Conference Centre June 16 - Kirstenbosch Conference Centre (transportation available)
Stories of Resilience in the Context of Domestic Violence
Abstract #241 Title: Pathways to Resiliency: Mapping Family, Community and Societal Challenges and Strengths in Coping with Domestic Violence in Kenya. Presenter: Jane Rose Njue (Northern Illinois University, USA) Co-Authors: Lucy Kathuri-Ogola, Joan Kabaria Muriithi Introduction: In this paper the authors argue that societal attitudes and prevailing cultural values and practices provide the context for the perpetration of domestic violence. The paper draws from the international family strengths model that highlights strengths within families, communities and societies that survivors of domestic violence have and could utilize. Methods: The discussion in this paper is based on findings from a study conducted in two Kenyan cities: Kisumu and Nairobi. The case study method with purposive sampling was used to identify women from different socio economic backgrounds. Three women from Kisumu and four from Nairobi were interviewed to gather their perspectives on the family, community, and cultural strengths they used to deal with domestic violence. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematic analysis conducted by the interviewers. Themes generated outline human and ecological structures that promote the perpetration of domestic violence, and those human and ecological structures geared towards alleviating violence Findings: Themes supporting perpetration include a culture condoning violence; preference for male children; gender inequality; misogyny; and weak law enforcement. Survivors utilized supports provided by the same systems through education of girls; empowerment of with and financial independence; stronger father figures; enactment and enforcement of stronger laws; and enforcing women’s rights
Abstract #64 Title: Teenagers’ Resilience When Being Subjected to Intimate Partner Violence and Their Own Voices on Needed Help and Support Presenter: Sibel Korkmaz (Stockholm University, Sweden) Co-Authors: Carolina Överlien Introduction: Violence in teenagers’ romantic relationships have received increased attention in research recent years (e.g. Barter et al 2009; Hellevik et al 2015). By taking its starting point in a mixed method study, this presentation will focus on preliminary results regarding teenagers’ resilience when being subjected to intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: The presentation will draw upon the qualitative data, i.e. 20 interviews with Swedish teenagers (age 15-19) that have been subjected to IPV. The presentation will have a social ecological perspective on violence (Heise 1998), as well as on resilience (Ungar 2012). It will also draw upon the notion on violence as a social phenomenon, where family, friends and professionals have the possibility to intervene. Responses from the informal network, will be discussed from the point of view that responses can either contribute to ending the violence, or to enable the violence to continue (cf. Weisz et al 2007). Findings: The presentation will discuss teenagers’ resilience when being subjected to IPV and responses from the social network, and highlight how they are intertwined. The presentation will also include the teenagers’ own voices on needed help and support, and contribute to an increased awareness on resiliency among violence exposed teenagers.
