Gender domination and domestic violence in Nigerian video films: a paradigmatic appraisal

Over the last five years, the Australian state of Queensland has taken a strong policy stance on addressing the highly gendered cultural norms and values that facilitate men’s use of domestic violence against women. This stance is supported by contemporary feminist scholarship, which demonstrates that addressing the cultural facilitators of domestic violence—and particularly those that relate to gender—must form a critical aspect of any policy attempt to prevent domestic violence. However, given that cultural frameworks have not yet been widely adopted and evaluated in government policy, considerably less is known about how such policies play out in practice. This is problematic, as existing evidence points to numerous complexities that, if not managed effectively, may undermine the effectiveness of domestic violence policies that seek to change culture. These complexities relate to conflicting government aims and rationalities; the deeply embedded nature of cultural expectations surrounding gender; and the complex relationship between cultural norms and values, broader social structures, and individual behaviours.Drawing on Queensland as a case study, I examine how the Queensland Government manages the aforementioned complexities in its contemporary domestic violence policies. My examination answers the following research questions: (1) How can governments informed by neoliberal rationalities legitimately intervene in the culture of the communities they govern? (2) How can governments ensure that policies aiming to change cultural expectations are not themselves underpinned by cultural assumptions that are incongruent with feminist literature? (3) How can governments effectively engage with cultural facilitators of domestic violence without marginalising other important contributing factors? By answering these questions, I aim to contribute to existing knowledge regarding the strengths and limitations of policies that seek to change culture, and how such policies may be improved to more effectively prevent domestic violence.To answer my research questions, I analyse the Queensland Government’s contemporary domestic violence policies using Fairclough’s three-dimensional critical discourse analysis framework. I draw on data from Queensland Government domestic violence policies released since the development of the Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in 2015. I also draw data from 15 qualitative interviews that I conducted with members of the policy community who were involved in the policy development process. Participants included government employees from various Queensland state departments (n=7), CEOs (n=3) and employees (n=3) from various community services and support organisations, and academics from various educational institutions and disciplinary backgrounds (n=2). While the policy document analysis allowed me to analyse the explicit and implicit messages and assumptions underpinning the policies, the qualitative interviews allowed me to consider the power relations at play throughout the policymaking process and examine who had the power to contribute to the policies and to what effect.Ultimately, my study identifies three main barriers that undermine the Queensland Government’s relatively progressive domestic violence policy approach. First, in order to legitimise its intervention in the cultural sphere and distance itself from direct intervention in citizens’ private lives, the Queensland Government adopts the strategy of governing through community. In doing so, the government conceptualises the community as comprising of particular discrete groups. This conceptualisation has important implications for which community members are or are not targeted and engaged in the policies. Second, the Queensland Government policies specifically highlight the need for the community to change cultural norms and values relating to gender; however, the policies leverage existing, deeply-engrained gender ideologies as a way of promoting this goal. As a result, while the policies may help the community to recognise and challenge more explicit manifestations of gendered cultural expectations, they also help to reinforce the more implicit and highly pervasive cultural and structural inequalities that have underpinned women’s historic marginalisation in society. Finally, in focusing on the importance of changing community culture, the Queensland Government policies largely overlook the importance of changing the attitudes and behaviours of perpetrators themselves. This has resulted in a lack of sanctions and supports to assist perpetrators to change, as well as a broad under-prioritisation of primary prevention strategies.Findings from this research provide critical insight into the barriers that may undermine domestic violence policy approaches that aim to change cultural norms and values. This research is particularly timely given the increasing recognition in feminist scholarship that domestic violence policies should aim to change cultural norms and values. My analysis of Queensland’s domestic violence policies therefore offers practical insight for the Queensland Government itself to consider for future reforms, as well as important lessons for other Australian and international jurisdictions that aspire to end domestic violence through policies that aim to change culture.

This paper examines the use of Igbo English, one of the ethnic varieties of Nigerian English, in the Nigerian video film. By Nigerian video film, we mean video films produced in, and/or about Nigeria in English as opposed to those produced in Nigerian indigenous languages which are variously known as Igbo video films, Yoruba video films, or Edo video films, among others. The data for this study come from a random selection from video films produced in Nigeria between 2003 and 2006. In all the films studied, it is observed that Igbo English is essentially the medium of communication. Igbo English is one of the three major ethnic varieties of Nigerian English and is characterized by the fact that, while the vocabulary is mostly English, the sentence pattern is essentially Igbo. The choice of Igbo English as the medium for the films seems to be part of the efforts by the producers to retain, as much as possible, the “Nigerianness” of the films, which inevitably have to be produced in English to accommodate the international audience. This study observes that Igbo English, as used in the films studied, manifests itself in four forms: Igbo English proper, composed of English vocabulary in Igbo sentence structure; Engligbo, a form of code-mixing that is almost a fifty-fifty blend of English and Igbo; translation, in which Igbo idiomatic and other rhetorical expressions are transferred literally into English; and errors induced by the influence of the mother tongue (Igbo) on English.

Gender, masculinity and policing: An analysis of the implications of police masculinised culture on policing domestic violence in southern Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria

Restorative justice (RJ) is an alternative approach to resolving criminal cases that focuses on victim recovery, perpetrator rehabilitation, and community reintegration. In the context of domestic and child violence, this approach offers the potential for a more inclusive and sustainable resolution compared to traditional retributive approaches. However, there is debate about the effectiveness of RJ in cases of violence that have profound psychological and physical impacts on victims. The issue at hand is whether RJ can provide adequate justice without reducing legal protection for victims. This study offers novelty by examining the application of RJ in cases of domestic and child violence in Indonesia, where RJ laws and policies are still developing. The purpose of the study is to identify the challenges and opportunities for implementing RJ in these cases and to evaluate the extent to which this approach is able to create restorative justice for victims and perpetrators. This study uses a qualitative method with case studies on several cases of domestic and child violence resolved through RJ in various regions. The findings indicate that RJ can be effective in facilitating victim recovery, but its implementation requires a strong support structure, including professional counselors and clear legal protection. The conclusion of this study confirms that RJ has great potential in resolving domestic violence cases, but its implementation must be carried out carefully to ensure justice and protection for victims. The implication is that this study encourages policy makers to design a more comprehensive and inclusive RJ framework in handling domestic violence.

Chapter 1 - Introduction: The Role and Context of the CJ System The Primacy of the CJ System A. Have Multiple Goals of the CJ System led to a loss of clarity? B. Why Changes Occurred? PART I: CONTEXT OF THE PROBLEM Chapter 2 - Defining and Measuring Domestic Violence and its Impact A. What is Domestic Violence B. How Definitions Impact upon Measurement C. How Widespread is Domestic Violence: The Problem of Conflicing Studies D. What is the Incidence of Domestic Violence E. The Impact of Domestic Violence F. Is Stalking the Prototypical Offence on Dating Relationships? Chapter 3 - Risk Markers for Victims, Offenders, and Families A. Specialized Profile B. Risk Factors for Victims and the Phenomenon of Revictimization C. Risk Markers for Families and Sociological Based Theories of the Incidence of Domestic Violence Chapter 4 - Societal and Historical Factors in Domestic Violence A. Does Society Create an Atmosphere Conducive to Domestic Violence? B. Religion and Historical Perspectives C. The Context of Early American strategies and interventions D. Does History still Matter PART II: THE EVOLVING POLICE RESPONSE Chapter 5 - The Traditional Police Response and Early Innovations A. The Traditional Approach: Minimal Intervention B. Crisis Management C. Does Police Intervention Help? Chapter 6 - The Push for Greater Criminal Justice Intervention A. Political Pressure on the Criminal Justice System B. The Role of Research in Forcing Change C. Legal Liability as an Agent for Change Chapter 7 - The Development of State and Federal Legislation A. Domestic Violence Related Laws B. Specific Anti-Stalking Legislation C. The Federal Legislative Response Chapter 8 - The Increased Policy Preference for Arrest A. The Increasing Policy Preference for Arrest B. The Limits and Costs of Mandatory Arrest C. The Cost of Unintended Effects of Arrest D. The Diversity for the Victim Needs and Divergent Impacts of Madatory Arrest Chapter 9 - Factors Effecting Organizational Variations A. Situational and Incident Characteristics B. Police Evaluation of Victim Traits and Conduct C. Assailant Behavior and Demeanor D. Organizational Variations Among Police Departments E. The Importance of Training F. Domestic Violence in the Context of Community Policing Chapter 10 - Variations in Police Response to Domestic and Non-Domestic Violence A. Impact of Differential Police Interveintions PART III: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ARREST? THE ROLE OF THE PROSECUTORS AND THE COURTS Chapter 11 - Classic Patterns of Non-Intervention by the Prosecutors and Courts A. The Victim's Experience B. Unique Factors Limiting Effectiveness of Prosecutors in Combating Domestic Violence C. The Impact of Pro-Arrest Practices: The Dilemma of Growing Caseloads D. Case Disposition by the Judiciary Chapter 12 - The Increased Role of Restraining and Protective Orders A. The Increasing Use of Protective Orders B. The Complex Problem of Re-Abuse C. Are there Other Avenues for Civil Court Relief of Violence? Chapter 13 - The Changing Prosecutorial Response A. Victim Support And Victim Advocacy Programs Within Prosecutor Offices B. No - Drop Policies C. Victims Charged with Child Endagerment D. Are there Alternate Models of Empowering Victims that Prosecutors can Follow? E. Can Comprehensive Prosecutorial Programs have an Impact on Domestic Violence: A Case Study Chapter 14 - Judicial Innovations: the First Steps Diversions from the Criminal Justice Systems A. The Lack of a Coordinated Response by the Judiciary B. Court Sponsored Diversions C. Court Sponsored Mediation Programs D. Batterer Intervention Programs Chapter 15 - Innovations in Judicial Processing and Disposition A. The Role of Specialized Domestic Courts B. Integrated Domestic Violence Case Management C. Integrated Coordinating Councils D. Do Integrated Programs Work?

Editorial: Domestic violence – time for a rethink?

Domestic violence (DV) is a serious social problem that impacts significantly on communities globally. While dentists are uniquely positioned to identify patients who experience DV, there is limited content specifically addressing the issue in their undergraduate training. James Cook University (JCU) dental students revealed this gap, and, in response, an interprofessional collaboration between JCU Social Work, JCU Dentistry and the Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service was established to codesign and deliver the Dentists and Domestic Violence—Recognise, Respond and Refer program, evaluated through Participatory Action Research (PAR) cycles. The program is informed by critical and feminist social work theory with a gendered analysis of DV. The authors present the program’s evolution and examine the four elements identified as central to its success: interprofessional collaboration, critical and feminist theory and gendered analysis, scaffolded content, and skills-based activities. This article will provide a guide for others starting work in this space. IMPLICATIONS Designing and implementing an interprofessional domestic violence curriculum informed by critical theory and tailored for dental students’ can help meet their learning needs. Collaboratively educating dental students to recognise and respond to domestic violence cases will enable appropriate clinical interactions with patients who are victim-survivors of domestic violence and improve the quality of referrals and interactions with community support services. Undertaking evaluation research that guides effective domestic violence training for students across disciplines contributes to addressing domestic violence.

Women empowerment refers to the process of giving women the power to take control of their lives, rights, and decision-making. It is about creating a society where women are treated equally, with respect, and have access to the same opportunities as men. It involves promoting women's education, encouraging their participation in politics, and breaking down gender stereotypes. However, prevailing information of domestic violence against women is rampant in many places around the world. Domestic violence is a form of abuse that can occur in any intimate relationship. It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. It is crucial to protect individuals from domestic violence, especially women, who are most often the victims of this type of abuse. Islam recognizes the rights of women and emphasizes their equality with men. Women have the right to own property, inherit, and engage in business. The religion also promotes modesty and respect for women, including the obligation to protect them from harm. As well as Islam addresses domestic violence through teachings of respect, communication, patience, and consent between spouses. It prohibits harm, emphasizes gender equality, and encourages seeking guidance from knowledgeable sources and family support. By promoting these principles, Islam aims to prevent domestic violence, foster healthy relationships, and ensure the well-being and dignity of all family members. The United Nations has recognized the severity of this issue and has implemented various initiatives to combat domestic violence. We must all work together to ensure that everyone is safe and free from abuse in their own homes. Their motto for this effort is "Women's Rights are Human Rights," which was famously declared by Hillary Clinton during her speech at the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. The UN has since adopted this statement as a guiding principle for their gender equality and women's empowerment efforts worldwide. It is essential to emphasize the role of education and communication in protecting women from domestic violence. By educating individuals on what constitutes abuse and how to recognize the signs, we can empower them to take action and seek help. Additionally, open and honest communication between partners can prevent misunderstandings and potential conflicts that may escalate into violence. We must continue to prioritize education and communication as solutions to combat domestic violence and ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals, particularly women. The qualitative research methodology is applied in this research and the article will be published in an index journal at the earliest.

The influence of Palestinian physicians’ patriarchal ideology (PAI) and exposure to family violence (EFV) on their beliefs about wife beating was examined. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 396 physicians. The results revealed that notable percentages of the physicians expressed some level of willingness to justify wife beating, tendency to believe that battered women benefit from beating, and that battered women are to blame for their beating. Nevertheless, between 27 and 59 % of the physicians expressed some willingness to help battered women. The results also revealed that significant amounts of the variance in physicians’ beliefs about wife beating can be attributed to their PAI and to their EFV during childhood and adolescence..The implications of the results for future research, theory development, and training of physicians are discussed.

Prelims

Background: This article discusses the effects of domestic violence on children and how it compares to forms of child abuse. Aim: The purpose of this article is to explore if domestic violence in households where there are children should be classified as a form of child abuse and be dealt with in the same way as other types of child abuse. Methods: For this study, primary data from a qualitative research methodology was carried out in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West. Community members were interviewed and focus groups were used to collect data on child abuse and domestic violence. Secondary data was also used to explore what is known about child abuse and domestic violence. Conclusion: To effectively fight against child abuse, it is very important that all types of child maltreatment such as Domestic Violence are identified.

In response to feminist activism inside and outside government, all Australian states and territories enacted civil law responses to domestic and family violence in the early to mid-1980s. These laws were part of a broader feminist agenda to interrupt and, ultimately, dismantle gender inequality. There are legislative differences and similarities amongst the Australian states and territories, but all provide a swift legal restraint on domestic violence perpetrators through a civil court order. There are, however, unintended negative consequences of these laws for women. My thesis is that the lack of an intersectional policy analysis, specifically the failure to consider race and class as well gender in the development of the legislation has amplified the unintended negative consequences for Indigenous women. I demonstrate this through a mixed methods research design, drawing on four bodies of theoretical thought to examine: 1) gender and race differences in the application of legislative provisions that reflect specific gendered aspirations; and 2) the kind of violence perpetrated, and the context in which it occurs. Using passage of the Domestic Violence (Family Protection) Act 1989 (Qld) as a case study, I first conduct a thematic analysis of parliamentary debates on relevant legislative Bills to explicate the gendered aspirations in the civil domestic violence law. I find that despite the Act’s gender-neutral language, its intent is to address a particular kind of violence (an ongoing pattern of coercive control), with a particular kind of victim in mind (a subjugated, powerless woman). Gendered aspirations, expressed through specific legislative provisions, have not been fully realised in practice; worse, and as others have observed, a number of unintended consequences have emerged, including that women who are victims of violence are themselves subject to court-imposed domestic violence orders. I argue that this unintended consequence results from the failure of the law, and law enforcers, to distinguish between coercive controlling violence and fights and the evolution of a formulaic, incident-based approach to making domestic violence orders (DVOs).

This paper examines the representation of women in Tunde Kelani’s video films through an analysis of Ti Oluwa Ni Ile 1, Campus Queen, The Narrow Path, and Thunderbolt. I use Kelani’s films as a counterpoint to argue that women are not always essentialized in Nigerian video films. The paper also interrogates the revisioning of Nigeria’s colonial history and portrayal of modernity in Nigerian movies using third-world feminist and post-colonial theories. I develop an inductive typology introducing the five analytical categories of normative pre-colonial, dominant colonial, polemical post-colonial, pervasive neo-colonial, and persistent pseudo-colonial for examining the representation of women in the four video films.

The article analyses the domestic implementation of the Maria da Penha Law, a Brazilian federal legal act to combat and prevent domestic and family violence against women. The article first introduces the trajectory of domestic violence from a private matter to a public concern as a human rights violation. Then the article contextualises the Brazilian feminist activism for legal reform and introduces the importance of the 2001 Maria da Penha case in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for the enactment of the Maria da Penha Law in 2006. Thereafter, the article presents the Maria da Penha Law’s legal provisions and its success in establishing special legal protection for women in situations of domestic violence, as well as it reflects on the Maria da Penha Law’s ongoing challenges. A critical analysis of the Brazilian reality demonstrates that offender criminal accountability is the most feasible remedy to domestic violence, whereas the fragmentation and fragility of state measures to protect and assist women in situations of violence perpetuates state neglect of women in the context of gender-based violence. Therefore, the Maria da Penha Law case study demonstrates that legal reform alone is insufficient to tackle domestic violence. Women’s effective access to legal protection and integrated and gender-aware public policies is pivotal to eradicating domestic violence against women.

A great deal of attention has long been paid to domestic violence against women owing to its long-lasting harm, whether physical or psychological, on the victim. The factors associated with domestic violence have been discussed by previous research. Among them, the impact of traditional culture is an indispensable part that can't be neglected. The pertinence has been proved by past studies, however, the comprehensive interpretation of the association between domestic violence and gender culture hasn't been stated. This study investigates the relationship between traditional gender culture and domestic violence against women in China. And the exact cultural influence on family violence is presented. The journal articles on intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence over a period of 24 years covering 1998-2022 were systematically reviewed in this article. And the cultural factors mentioned in the previous articles were carefully analyzed. Our analysis shows a strong relationship between culture and family violence against women. We conclude that traditional culture has somehow promoted the occurrence of family violence against women in China. The patriarchal ideology and filial piety (important parts of Chinese culture) are related to the occurrence and durative of domestic violence.