The Plymouth Law & Criminal Justice Review, Volume 08 - 2016https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/87862024-03-28T16:45:31Z2024-03-28T16:45:31ZThe Absent Voice of Male Domestic Abuse Victims: The Marginalisation of Men in a System Originally Designed for WomenWright, Coraliehttps://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/90372019-05-22T15:14:46Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Absent Voice of Male Domestic Abuse Victims: The Marginalisation of Men in a System Originally Designed for Women
Wright, Coralie
The problematic construction of domestic abuse as a ‘gendered, heterosexual phenomenon that is predominantly physical in nature’ has served to marginalise male victims of domestic abuse (Donovan and Hester, 2010:279), and impeded them from reaching victim status (Josolyne, 2011). As such, in comparison to women, men receive less recognition as victims within society, and support services are tailored towards the needs of female victims. Relatively little research has been undertaken on the experiences of male victims of domestic abuse, and thus it remains unclear how it is best to support them. This study adopts a qualitative approach to explore the invisibility of male victims within society, and investigate the level of service provision currently available to male victims. The findings indicate that: service provision for male victims remains inadequate, particularly in regard to refuge spaces; and, perhaps more importantly, there is a lack of awareness that men can also be victims of domestic abuse, which serves to discourage male victims from seeking help. The study concludes by suggesting directions for further research, which would improve the service provision for male victims, and increase the likelihood that they will approach support services.
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Changing Face of Domestic Abuse Service ProvisionHenderson, Gemmahttps://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/90362019-05-22T15:14:46Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Changing Face of Domestic Abuse Service Provision
Henderson, Gemma
This article aims to explore the changing reality of domestic abuse service provision to victims of domestic abuse in the South West of England. By interviewing the professionals who work with the victims, it explores how cuts to funding is altering provisions for victims and multi-agency working and the realities of the move to tendering via the commissioning process. Results illustrate that austerity measures and government reforms have negatively affected domestic abuse service provision over recent years. Not only are there fewer services available but also changes in social policy are forcing the specialist domestic abuse charities to be replaced by large, generic organisations.
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZLegal High Use among Young Adults in the South-West Rave/Party Community: Implications for UK Drug PolicyAllen, Patrickhttps://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/90342019-05-22T15:14:46Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZLegal High Use among Young Adults in the South-West Rave/Party Community: Implications for UK Drug Policy
Allen, Patrick
The UK government has struggled with controlling the legal high problem since the emergence of mephedrone in 2009. Academic research has provided detailed knowledge on how people perceive these substances, mainly focusing on mephedrone, but has yet to identify a viable solution to escalating usage and availability. This research aimed to determine young adults’ (18-26) current perceptions of legal highs and to assess how this might help government shape current proposed policy and futurelegislation more successfully. It also examined the under-researched moralistic interpretations of legal highs. Qualitative research was undertaken in the form of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 14 experienced drug users from the South-West rave/party community, an un-researched, highly active, but hidden community in England. It found that although participants agreed with scientists on the dangers of drug use, they felt the un-researched nature of legal highs meant these posed the greater risk. They also believed that the risks associated with illegal drug use could be countered through contextual safety and moderation. The findings also revealed that participants felt drug use was a matter of personal choice, and only a moral issue if their use impacted others. This, they believed, could be countered through moderation. The legality of drug use only affected participants when considering legal highs, where their loyalty to illegal drugs effectively stigmatized the legal substances. Supply control policy was thought likely to deter the inexperienced, but increase interest in illegal alternatives amongst experienced users. The implications were that, although current proposed supply reduction legislation has been shown to be effective, it is unlikely to impact the drug habits of the South-West rave/party community. Having found that participants were moral individuals with their own measures in place to protect the community from their drug use, this research recommended a policy of decriminalization. However, it noted implementation difficulties in the politically charged atmosphere that dominates policy-making.
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZFemale Perpetrated Domestic Abuse: A Study Exploring the Hidden Experiences of Male Victims through a Thematic Analysis of Online BlogsHall, Louisehttps://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/90332019-05-22T15:14:46Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZFemale Perpetrated Domestic Abuse: A Study Exploring the Hidden Experiences of Male Victims through a Thematic Analysis of Online Blogs
Hall, Louise
Despite a great deal of academic literature surrounding domestic abuse in general, it is fair to suggest that the majority of research focuses on male perpetrated domestic abuse and the female victim. This therefore neglects the complexity of domestic abuse as a crime, whilst also undermining and causing further implications for the unrecognised and under researched male victim. Considering how much extensive research has been undertaken to explore female victim experiences of domestic abuse, this study sets out to explore the ‘hidden’ male victim. It will be evidenced through the collection and thematic analysis of eight online male victim blogs, that although little research exists on this area of domestic abuse, the stigmatisation, subjection of abuse, damaging effects and further complications caused by the abuse are just as prominent, if not more prominent and destructive for male victims of domestic abuse than their female counterpart.
2016-01-01T00:00:00Z