Since the 1970s research on gendered violence has undergone a paradigmatic shift. Placing women’s experiences of men’s violence in focus has opened up contextual analyses in which connections between gender, violence and power have become visible. This, in turn, has enabled a wide recognition of men’s violence as one of the main threats against women and children, and against the essence of democracy. However, old perspectives persist and take on new forms, in which violence is marginalised, fragmented into separate “types”, or associated with “the others” in contrast to “us”. Today, there is a renewed need for lively academic discussions regarding theories, methodologies and politics to understand and eliminate gendered violence.
How should we interpret the gap between in-principle declarations on gender equality and the violent everyday life of women, children and men?