Interpersonal violence and abuse in young people’s relationships in five European countries: online and offline normalisation of heteronormativity

Qualitative interviews with 91 young people aged 13–18 in Bulgaria, Cyprus, England, Italy and Norway explored their experiences of intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA). Some young women experienced extensive offline sexual pressure and young women were substantially more negatively affected by IPVA than young men. The data revealed that online space has created new mechanisms of control and surveillance that can intensify the impact of offline abuse. Analysing the data in the light of existing theories of cultural violence and coercive control, we explore both the normalising influence of prevailing heteronormative models of femininity and masculinity as well as young people’s agency to resist such normalisation

Navigating cultural transitions during resettlement: the case of unaccompanied refugee minors

IntroductionRefugees face the process of cross-cultural transitions upon arrival in their host country. This process is commonly referred to as acculturation and can be particularly challenging for asylum-seeking children and adolescent unaccompanied by a caregiver. To more effectively facilitate unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) resettlement, this study sought to obtain an enhanced understanding of the acculturation processes of these youth’.MethodsThus, interviews with 48 URMs, all of whom arrived before the age of 16 years, were analyzed in two steps. First, how the youth described their host country’s society and culture, followed by how they navigated within this societal and cultural landscape during resettlement.ResultsThe youth described how they navigated the Norwegian cultural and societal landscape by gaining cultural competence, adapting and finding ways to contribute, which made it easier for the youth to gain access to the society, to succeed as well as enhance their sense of agency. However, the youths also reported having to navigate between the expectations of their original and host country cultures, struggling with finding a balance between the two cultures.DiscussionThe youth’ acculturation processes seemed to be the result of both their own needs, wishes and behavior as well as specific features in their host country culture, which supports the notion that acculturation processes to some degree are context- and culture-dependent. Knowledge regarding the cultural and societal framework that these youth face and how they navigate within it during resettlement is critical for identifying possible cross-cultural challenges and promoting positive developmental tracks. To understand more about acculturation and integration processes, future research should include specific cultural and societal features as well as immigrants’ own perspectives and experiences during resettlement

Young People’s Experiences of Violence and Abuse in Same-sex Relationships: Understandings and Challenges

Studies on youth intimate partner violence (IPV) issues have been increasingly published during the last few years. However, research on IPV in same-sex relationships among youths is limited. The aim of this article is to expand this knowledge base by exploring the voices of four youth exposed to IPV in same-sex relationships, investigating the similarities to violence in heterosexual relationships and shedding light on the complicating factor of sexuality. The Listening Guide analysis used in this article reveals that, although the dynamics of YIPV are similar to heterosexual relationships, participants experience responses from their immediate social network that reflect heteronormativity and homophobia, and result in participants’ feeling like a burden. Furthermore, the findings of the analysis show that dominant social discourses on men’s violence against women may become barriers to help-seeking. Thus, professionals need to gain knowledge of the unique challenges experienced by sexual minority youths exposed to IPV to prevent the issue and support those that experience it. Moreover, qualitative researchers need to further develop an understanding of the lives of youths exposed to IPV in same-sex relationships

Hiding and being hidden: The marginalisation of children’s participation in research and practice responses to domestic violence and abuse

his group is known within the literature to be a hard to reach population. This is namely due to their perceived vulnerability, as well as efforts to protect them by adult gatekeepers, and rigorous ethical procedures that make recruitment efforts often challenging. Consequently, this group, sometimes for their own protection, remain hidden in the shadows when it comes to research and practice responses that continue to operate from an adult-centric lens when children’s agency is not fully acknowledged. This paper sets out to discuss the multiple ways by which children who experience domestic violence both hide and are hidden by adults, rendering them invisible. Based on findings from a qualitative doctoral study that sought to explore children’s experiences of the police response to domestic violence, this paper highlights the interconnectedness between children’s invisibility in practice and research, and the processes through which they become and can remain hidden in these two arenas. The paper calls for a need to bring children’s experiences of domestic violence out of the shadows and to begin to acknowledge their agency and capacity as both research participants and victims

Krisesenter – kommunenes arbeid og oppfølging i reetableringsfasen

Denne rapporten er utarbeidet på oppdrag fra Barne-, ungdoms- og familiedirektoratet (Bufdir) og Helsedirektoratet, og har som mål å skaffe til veie kunnskap som kan legges til grunn for sektormyndighetenes og kommunenes videreutvikling av krisesentertilbudet. Formålet med studien som presenteres i denne rapporten har vært å styrke kunnskapen om hvordan kommunene jobber med implementering av krisesenterloven og hvordan oppfølgings- og reetableringsfasen kan forberedes for brukerne, både i de lokale tjenestene og ved krisesentrene. Rapporten er basert på individuelle intervju og fokusgruppeintervju, med brukere, både voksne og barn, ansatte ved krisesentre, representanter for kommunal forvaltning og ledelse, samt representanter for helsesektor, politi og andre relevante aktører. I tillegg har vi gjennomgått tidligere utredninger, faglige veiledere og andre saksdokumenter, samt benyttet oss av Sentios krisesenterstatistikk, som utgis på Bufdir sin hjemmeside.Krisesenter – kommunenes arbeid og oppfølging i reetableringsfasenpublishedVersio