The perspectives of intimate partner violence service providers regarding men as clients: between ‘gender’ and ‘gender-inclusive’

Abstract

ABSTRACT Practitioners who work in IPV services have over the years addressed core questions regarding causes and accountability for IPV. Accordingly, service providers’ perspectives on IPV and treatment of men reveal that different organisations hold different ideologies, policies, and practices. The present study focused on the perspectives of directors of IPV services in Israel about IPV and men’s treatment, and the way they are reflected in practice and policy. 29 directors of centres for violence prevention and treatment in Israel participated in in-depth, semi-structured focus group interviews. The analysis offered three main themes: (1) A process of changing from a ‘gender’ to a ‘gender-inclusive’ perspective. (2) A question of whether service providers should confront men about their role as aggressors at the beginning of treatment. (3) Who is the main client? The study reveals a tension that exists between a ‘gender’ and ‘gender-inclusive’ approach and stresses the need to raise professionals’ awareness about assumptions and stereotypes regarding gender roles, and the way they reflected in policy and practice. In addition, the study emphasises the need to extend training to a variety of stakeholders, allowing them to see IPV as a complex problem, thus, improving policy, treatment, and working models of IPV.