Theorising masculinity and intimate partner violence

Hidden Dramas of Masculinity: Women’s Perspectives on Intimate Violence in Different Social Classes

“…To make sense of the contrasting public and private faces that men present, I will expand upon the theoretical work on masculinities by Raewyn Connell and James Messerschmidt. Although there are many others writing about masculinity, the work of Connell and Messerschmidt has been highly influential (Berggren et al, forthcoming; Morris & Ratajczak, 2019). Drawing upon interviews with 60 women who have survived intimate violence, this article seeks to examine the conflicting faces of masculinity that abusive men present.…”

Rethinking Male Peer Support Theory: Social Network Responses to Young Men’s Violence Against Women

“…Men's violence against women remains an immense problem in society, yet the theoretical interest in the issue has been relatively limited among masculinity scholars (cf. Berggren et al, 2021). DeKeseredy and Schwartz' work on MPST constitutes an important contribution to theorizing men's use of violence against women by foregrounding the role of the social network.…”

“…The contribution of MPST is best understood in the context of research on masculinity and men’s violence against women (DeKeseredy & Schwartz, 2005; Berggren et al, 2021). One influential strand of this research—primarily developed by Messerchmidt (1993) in his Structured Action Theory—has been inspired by socialist feminism and argues that violence constitutes a resource to “accomplish” masculinity (Messerschmidt, 1993), particularly in communities where physical aggression is admired (Connell, 2002).…”

On masculinities: navigating the tension between individual and structural considerations

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In this short piece the author uses the recent publication of an edited collection, Men, Masculinities and Intimate Partner Violence (Gottzen et al, 2021) as a springboard to focus on the pertinent questions this raises within feminist academic, policy and practitioner work. This book highlights a greater awareness of the multiplicity of masculinities and the impact this is having on work in the domestic abuse sector, particularly in perpetrator interventions.

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“…There is an increasing recognition in the gender-based violence field that constructions of masculinity directly affects men's and boys' lives, identities and experiences. A newly published collection, entitled Men, Masculinities and Intimate Partner Violence (Gottzen et al, 2021) brings together a diverse range of authors who open up the discussion of how we can give space for a deeper understanding of masculinities in relation to experiences of violence. A strength of this work is the multi-faceted approach taken; chapters home in on analysis of masculinities within violence prevention, victimisation and perpetration across the globe.…”