Castro, Arabella

Gracia, Enrique

Lila, Marisol

Wemrell, Maria

English

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITYPO Box 117221 00 Lund+46 46-222 00 00Professionals’ views on the relatively low prevalence of intimate partner violenceagainst women in SpainCastro, Arabella; Lila, Marisol; Gracia, Enrique; Wemrell, Maria2021Document Version:Peer reviewed version (aka post-print)Link to publicationCitation for published version (APA):Castro, A., Lila, M., Gracia, E., & Wemrell, M. (2021). Professionals’ views on the relatively low prevalence ofintimate partner violence against women in Spain. Poster session presented at IPVI - Interpersonal ViolenceInterventions - Social and Cultural Perspectives, Jyväskylä, Finland.Total number of authors:4General rightsUnless other specific re-use rights are stated the following general rights apply:Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authorsand/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by thelegal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private studyor research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portalRead more about Creative commons licenses: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/Take down policyIf you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will removeaccess to the work immediately and investigate your claim.Professionals’ views on the relatively low prevalence of intimate partner violence againstwomen in SpainArabella Castro*, Marisol Lila*, Enrique Gracia* & Maria Wemrell**University of Valencia*Lund University**Introduction: The average lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual violence against women by male partners in the EU was 22% (FRA, 2014). Spain, with a rate of 13%, was among the countries with the lowest IPVAW lifetime prevalence of all member states. The aim of this study was to be a first approximation toward understanding the reasons why Spain is one of the European Union countries with the comparatively lowest prevalence rates of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW). Method:Participants: The sample was composed by 19 professionals:  5 Focus groups 10 Key informantsProcedure:1. Research on the prevalence differences in IPVAW across the EU countries supporting the relatively low prevalence of this type of violence in Spain was presented to participants. 2. Participants were asked “Why do you think Spain is one of the countries in the EU with the lowest prevalence rates of IPVAW?”. 3. The moderator asked follow-up questions to held the flow of the discussionAnalytic approach: A thematic analysis of the text was conducted using an inductive approach. Three major categories emerged and were defined as Law and policy, Social awareness, and Cultural patterns.Table 1. Description of Focus Group participants and Key Informants by sex and jobFocus Group participants Key informantsJob Women Men Total Job Women Men TotalAttorney. Court-appointed for IPVAW cases and support services for victims’ of crime3 1 4 Head of IPVAW specialized police units2 0 2Social educator. Family support services1 0 1 Psychologist specialized in IPVAW victims and aggressors treatment0 1 1Psychologist. Batterer intervention programs and IPVAW victims programs4 1 5 Deputy director of a batterer intervention program1 0 1Police officer specialized in IPVAW cases2 3 5 Coordinator of a 24-hour women’s shelter1 0 1Psychologist. Adolescents victims or offenders of IPVAW programs1 1 2 Head of IPVAW victim recovery centers1 1 2Phone-line support service for IPVAW victims technician1 0 1 Director of a University Master's degree on IPVAW1 0 1Coordinator of the support services for victims of crime.1 0 1 Head of the Department of Women and Equality1 0 1Prosecutor specialized in IPVAW cases1 0 1Lower prevalence of IPVAW in SpainLaw and policyOrganic Law 1/2004“A preventive law, a law of prevention, and I think that has also determined that despite those insufferable numbers of murdered women that we have... well, it has helped us” (KI4). Specialized profesional groups“In Spain things are being done well because there are specific groups working on IPVAW. Just as one can work with other types of crime [...] there are groups that work only and exclusively on this... national police, local police, and the civil guard...” (FG4.2). Specific resources for victims and offenders“It is important to have resources, both economic as well as residential, etc., for women disclosing the violence. There are both private and public resources, that is, from associations [...] If there is violence, and the woman is in danger, she is moved to some hidden shelter.” (KI5).Social awarenessSocial Movements“The feminist movement has been talking about IPVAW long before it was an issue for the public administrations [...] I believe that the feminist movement is the one that has put this problem where it should be, on the public agendas, on the political agendas, and it is this movement that is responsible for having put pressure on the public administrations to take actions against this social problem” (KI8).Media attention“What I am receiving from the media at the message level (is) [...] Alert, alert, alert! [...] [this problem] is being dealt with on an urgent basis. What they are doing is really alerting us the existence of this problem, visualizing it, making it evident” (KI10). IPVAW as a social problem“People’s attitude has changed. It is no longer ‘what happens at home, it is their business, I do not want to know anything because it is not my business, it is theirs’. I think that the perception has changed, people are more involved [than before]” (FG3.2).Cultural patternsFamily relationships“[Spanish families] are also very supportive, and [this support] is immediately mobilized. I think that the victims, even if they feel isolated, break this isolation before [compared to other EU countries]" (KI2).Social support networks“We have made a lot of progress [...] if I have a friend who is having a hard time [I ask her] [...] You see how among teenagers, they are already saying to each other, ‘Hey, that guy... why is he asking you to give him your phone, or why has he canceled your WhatsApp?, and why is he controlling you?’”(FG1.3)Results: Discussion: According to the participants: Laws and public policies were key to the detection and prevention of IPVAW cases and to the improvement of support and treatment for direct and indirect victims. Laws and public policies have played an important role in the increasing visibility of this problem.  Higher levels of social awareness of IPVAW in the general population have led to a growing public perception of IPVAW as a social problem that concerns all citizens, rather than a private matter. This change in the social perception of IPVAW could influence social behaviors regarding personal involvement.  Family relationships and social support networks were found to be of central importance in the detection of situations of violence. These factors, therefore, could contribute to keeping prevalence rates in Spain relatively low.This research will be published in: Castro, A., Lila, M., Gracia, E., & Wemrell, M. (In press). Professionals’ views on the comparatively low prevalence of intimate partner violence against women in Spain. Violence Against Women.

Professionals’ views on the relatively low prevalence of intimate partner violence against women in Spain

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Professionals’ views on the relatively low prevalence of intimate partner violence against women in Spain

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