The challenges of engaging in meaningful research on gender, domestic and sexual violence, and filicide

Samantha Burton and Amie Simington

Chapter 31 in Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences, 2025, pp 457-478 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Discourses are demonstrations of ideologies that inform individual and collective consciousness, convincing people of their truth while suppressing alternative viewpoints. As such, certain voices, perspectives and experiences can be excluded or marginalised in mainstream narratives. Alternative viewpoints can lead to sensitive research, especially when challenging established perspectives, for instance, men as victims of domestic or sexual violence, as well as the framing of filicide offenders. The stereotypical framing of certain individuals, influenced by these cultural, social, and political discourses, is situated within expected gender roles, influencing public perception, criminal justice outcomes, and service providers. However, research that offers alternative viewpoints is essential in promoting social change. Nonetheless, alternative viewpoints that intersect with sensitive political issues, such as gender, can be potentially contentious and generate a challenging situation for propagating research that goes against the grain. In this chapter, we will discuss the discourses surrounding men as victims of violence and the societal barriers that often label men as perpetrators due to the expected outcomes of masculinity. It is crucial to understand that these discourses are not solely a product of societal norms but are also heavily influenced by gender ideology and the media. These external factors significantly contribute to the complexity of these societal issues.

Keywords: Gender; Discourse; Sexual and domestic violence; Filicide; Media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035315222
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