annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

Gavey, N. (2005). Just sex?: The cultural scaffolding of rape. Hove, East Sussex, England: Routledge.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13033.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Sexual assault/rape, Women, Violence against men,Justice, Cultural factors, GenderAbstract: This book draws upon New Zealand and international research and literature toprovide a feminist and cultural analysis of rape. The author considers rape in the context ofwider social factors, and how this contributes to differing definitions and meanings behind theterm ‘rape’. Changes over time pertaining to how the justice system deals with rape cases areexamined. The prevalence of rape and sexual assault is investigated, revealing that themajority of rape perpetrators are known to the victim. The book discusses the ‘culture ofrape’, where perpetrators are often excused and women blamed for the occurrence of rape.This also leads to instances of rape not seen as such when the offender is known to the victim,particularly within the context of marriage. The author examines the social construction ofrape, including the general acceptance in society of ‘just sex’ as opposed to ‘rape’. One of thechapters explores personal accounts from women who have experienced ‘unwanted sex’, butdo not class this as rape. The women believe that ‘going through’ with unwanted sexprotected them from being raped. This book also includes a chapter on women raping men.Gavey, N. (2005). Violence against women: Beyond gender neutrality. Paper presented at theWomen’s Convention: Looking Back, Moving Forward, Wellington, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13268.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Sexual assault/rape, Women, Legislation, Gender,PolicyAbstract: This conference paper critically discusses gender neutrality in New Zealand withreference to domestic violence legislation and policy. The author links international events ofwartime rape with domestic violence in New Zealand, arguing that underlying both of theseare similar sexist assumptions about men, women, sexuality and violence. The author thenargues that there is a need to recognise the gendered aspects of the most common sort ofdomestic violence (male against female) more explicitly, rather than consistently trying toremain gender-neutral as in Te Rito: New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy(2002), for example. This presentation is the first half of a joint presentation with AlisonTowns’ Violence Against Women: Beyond Silence (2005).Giles, J. R. (2004). Growing through adversity. Becoming women who live without partner abuse: Agrounded theory study. Unpublished master’s thesis, Auckland University of Technology,New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13164.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Physical abuse, Psychological/emotional abuse,Women, Victims/survivors, Cultural factors, Gender, Mental health, Prevention/intervention/treatmentAbstract: This thesis investigates the recovery process for women who have experiencedabuse by male partners. The research involved in-depth interviews with 10 women whoseexperiences of abuse and healing span more than 50 years. The researcher employed afeminist grounded theory approach to identify women’s psychosocial processes of recovery,including women’s development of self-identity, meaning-making, and coping strategies.From this analysis, a model titled ‘Growing Through Adversity’ was developed.71