Kate Seymour | Flinders University of South Australia (original) (raw)

Books by Kate Seymour

Interconnecting the Violences of Men: Continuities and Intersections in Research, Policy and Activism, 2025

This book aims to expand and enrich understandings of violences by focusing on gendered continuit... more This book aims to expand and enrich understandings of violences by focusing on gendered continuities, interconnections and intersections across multiple forms and manifestations of men’s violence. In actively countering, both, the compartmentalisation of studies of violence by ‘type’ and form, and the tendency to conceptualise violence narrowly, it aims to flesh out – not delimit – understandings of violence. Bringing together cross-disciplinary, indeed transdisciplinary, perspectives, this book addresses how –what are often seen as – specific and separate violences connect closely and intricately with wider understandings of violence, how there are gendered continuities between violences and how gendered violences take many forms and manifestations and are themselves intersectional. Grounded by the recognition that violence is, itself, a form of inequality, the contributors to this volume traverse the intersectional complexities across, both, experiences of violent inequality, and what is seen to ‘count’ as violence. The international scope of this book will be of interest to students and academics across many fields, including sociology, criminology, psychology, social work, politics, gender studies, child and youth studies, military and peace studies, environmental studies and colonial studies, as well as practitioners, activists and policymakers engaged in violence prevention.

Fernwood Press (Winnipeg, Canada) In Understanding Violence and Abuse, Heather Fraser and Kate... more Fernwood Press (Winnipeg, Canada)

In Understanding Violence and Abuse, Heather Fraser and Kate Seymour examine violence and abuse from an anti-oppressive practice perspective and make connections between interpersonal violence and structural, institutional and cultural violence. Using case studies from Canada, the U.K., the U.S., Australia, Bangladesh, India and elsewhere, the authors discuss topics ranging from class oppression, street violence, white privilege, war, shame, Islamophobia and abuse in intimate relationships, as well as introduce the core tenets of anti-oppressive social work practice. They encourage readers to reflect upon hierarchies of identity and difference in relation to the ways in which violence and abuse are defined, understood and addressed. Further, they discuss several responses to violence using an anti-oppressive framework.

Book Chapters by Kate Seymour

Prison masculinities: International perspectives and interpretations , 2022

Chapter 12, In T. Bartlett and R. Ricciardelli (Eds.).

In A. Gibbs and F. Gilmour (Eds.), Women, crime and justice in context: Contemporary perspectives... more In A. Gibbs and F. Gilmour (Eds.), Women, crime and justice in context: Contemporary perspectives in feminist criminology from Australia and New Zealand (chapter 5). London, Routledge.

In M. Maycock and K. Hunt (Eds.), New perspectives on prison masculinities (chapter 10). UK: Palg... more In M. Maycock and K. Hunt (Eds.), New perspectives on prison masculinities (chapter 10). UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

This chapter considers the continuum of normative masculinity practices that are valued, embodied and performed ”inside” and ”outside” of the prison. Drawing upon public records generated by official inquiries, it explores the ways in which hierarchies of difference and dominance shape relations within prisons and mirror broader society. Constructs of identity and difference thus intersect in ways that transcend the actions of individuals – these including the use of, and talk about, violence. Within a societal context marked by hierarchical power relations and the normalised positioning of certain others as different and lesser, it is argued that there is nothing fundamentally different about prison culture; (so-called) prison masculinity(ies) reflect ordinary, everyday masculinity(ies).

Refereed Articles by Kate Seymour

Men and Masculinities, 2021

This article critically interrogates the ways in which men’s talk about domestic and family viole... more This article critically interrogates the ways in which men’s talk about domestic and family violence (DFV) and change reproduce gender hierarchies which are themselves productive of violence. Drawing on interviews with men who have completed a perpetrator program, and building on the work of Hearn (1998), we show that these men’s conceptualizations of change both reflect and contribute to the discursive construction of masculinity, responsibility, and violence. By reflecting on men’s representations of change—and of themselves as “changed” men—we argue that DFV perpetrator interventions constitute a key site for the performance of dominant masculinities, reproducing the gendered discourses underpinning and enabling men’s violence.

Australian Social Work, 2021

Mandara, M., Wendt, S., McLaren, H., Jones, M., Dunk-West, P., & Seymour, K. Domestic and famil... more Mandara, M., Wendt, S., McLaren, H., Jones, M., Dunk-West, P., & Seymour, K.
Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a pervasive social problem that social workers often encounter in practice. Responses to DFV require specialist and non-specialist services. Research suggests that first contact social workers can experience a lack of confidence, both in engaging with men who use violence and working with women and children who disclose experiencing violence. This article reports on the findings of an Australian survey (N = 100) that sought to identify the knowledge and practice skills that social workers draw on when they are the first responders to DFV. The survey invited qualified social worker participants from all sectors across Australia through the national online bulletins of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and Child Family Community Australia (CFCA). Whilst 28% of the respondents demonstrated working in specialist DFV and child protection sectors, 72% worked in other sectors. The research found that most participants recognised signs of DFV, but responses were mainly focused on referring women victims to practical or accommodation support, and children to psychological support. Responding to perpetrators was rarely mentioned. Equipping non-specialist DFV practitioners with knowledge and skills to respond safely can create an opportunity for engagement, earlier intervention, and increased interagency collaboration with specialist services.

Australian Social Work, 2020

Professional, clinical or practice supervision is integral across social work and human services ... more Professional, clinical or practice supervision is integral across social work and human services settings, contributing to quality services for clients, job satisfaction and staff retention. However, contexts of high community need and limited resources mean that it can be difficult for human service organisations to provide practitioners with effective supervision. The pressure to respond to urgent client-related tasks can also make it hard for practitioners to prioritise supervision. As a consequence, some organisations have turned to group-based, rather than one-to-one, models of supervision as a way to address these challenges. With a particular focus on supervision within the context of domestic and family violence and sexual assault work, this article uses national survey data to compare the use and impacts of individual and group-based approaches.

British Journal of Social Work, 2020

Violence against social workers and other social service practitioners is prevalent across countr... more Violence against social workers and other social service practitioners is prevalent across countries and service delivery settings, often accepted as implicit in working with vulnerable clients. A corresponding scholarly focus on workplace violence, and the factors that affect it, is, however, still developing. This is particularly stark in the domestic and family violence (DFV) and sexual assault (SA) sectors. To address this gap, this article explores the extent and impact of practitioners’ exposure to workplace violence, and the mix of work and organisational factors that predict it. Analysis of survey data from Australian DFV and SA practitioners (N = 903) enables a focus on the two main sources of workplace violence: violence from clients and violence from colleagues. Both types of violence were found to be prevalent, gendered and associated with emotional strain and intention to leave. We argue that in DFV and SA sectors, which respond to multiple forms of gendered violence, understanding the multifaceted nature of workplace violence, and the structural arrangements that underpin it, is necessary for planning strategies to prevent and address it.

Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 2019

This paper explores women's experiences of the women's safety services associated with a South Au... more This paper explores women's experiences of the women's safety services associated with a South Australian integrated program for male perpetrators of domestic and family violence. As small-scale and exploratory, the study aimed to understand impact of such services on women’s perceptions of safety. Interviews were conducted by telephone, using a semi-structured format, with fourteen women whose partners or ex-partners had been referred to a perpetrator intervention program. Informed by a feminist standpoint perspective, thematic analysis was used to explore each woman's experience and perception of safety. The findings of the study suggest that integrated domestic and family violence programs can improve women’s feelings of safety through the application of practical safety planning, timely intervention, emotional support, and trauma focused practice. Importantly, while the behaviours and actions of perpetrators were clearly relevant to women’s perceived safety, it was apparent that focusing on women’s strengths and capacity for recovery can significantly impact on their continued sense of safety and wellbeing. The paper also reiterates the importance of women’s perspectives in evaluating the effectiveness of perpetrator interventions.

Australian Social Work, 2019

The significant impact of domestic and family violence in Australia calls for a workforce that is... more The significant impact of domestic and family violence in Australia calls for a workforce that is both highly skilled and capable of meeting the demands of complex and challenging jobs. Yet despite the increasingly national visibility of domestic violence, the workers—and work itself—have largely remained invisible. We argue for a shift in conversation, highlighting the need for a workforce approach that is not only strategic but that also applies a theorised lens to domestic and family violence work inclusive of both gender and Indigeneity.

Sexualities, Jan 2019

This article explores representations of gender and violence in Australia’s National Plan to Redu... more This article explores representations of gender and violence in Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children. The Plan’s neglect of violence in the context of LGB relationships is discussed as indicative of the Plan’s implicit heteronormativity and its uncritical reliance on dominant discourses of gender and violence. In its failure to engage with the diverse complexities of gender and violence, I argue that the Plan perpetuates the exclusion of certain bodies, identities and experiences, such that rights to protection and safety are reserved for some and not others.

International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 2018

This paper explores the ways in which particular forms of violence, namely violence against women... more This paper explores the ways in which particular forms of violence, namely violence against women and one-punch assaults, are framed in discourses of violence prevention in Australia. In denouncing certain acts, individuals and groups, I show that condemnatory responses—what I refer to here as ‘tough talk’—serve to reinforce, rather than challenge, hierarchical (gendered, raced, classed) difference as normative. Based on assumptions that link violence to particular ‘types’ of men, such approaches overlook the nuance, complexity and contextual meanings of violence. Preventing violence, I argue, requires that we engage with cultures of violence by focusing less on some men’s violence, instead recognising the interconnectedness of gender and other hierarchies of identity as the critical context for violence.

Australian Journal of Social Issues, 2018

Australia is one of the few countries which has specific health policies for boys/men and girls/w... more Australia is one of the few countries which has specific health policies for boys/men and girls/women as distinct groups. In this article I present an analysis of the discourses of gender, equity and disadvantage drawn upon in Australia’s men’s health policy. Through comparison with the women’s health policy, I show that a dual focus on the essential differences between men and women and the ways in which the health system has failed men contributes to an adversarial gender politics, positioning men and women as rivals with competing needs. Reflecting broader debates concerning the negative impact of societal change on boys/men, I argue that, in its current form, Australia’s health policy both taps into and, crucially, legitimises backlash politics, enabling it to ‘pass’ as sound public policy.

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, Jul 26, 2017

The White Ribbon campaign has come to occupy a central position in Australia's efforts to address... more The White Ribbon campaign has come to occupy a central position in Australia's efforts to address violence against women. This article critically examines key elements of the White Ribbon awareness-raising campaigns, paying particular attention to the conceptualisation of gender, masculinity, and equality. It is argued that White Ribbon's reliance on a binary view of gender, together with its emphasis on the attitudes and acts of individual men, contributes to the obscuration of men's collective advantage. Acknowledging the intersectional positionings associated with hierarchies of power and privilege, this article calls for deeper engagement with the complexities of gender and violence; a commitment to both engage with and transcend the interpersonal.

Social Work Education: The International Journal, Sep 2014

This article considers critical social work education within the context of the challenges associ... more This article considers critical social work education within the context of the challenges associated with the increasingly neoliberal, corporate and competitive nature of higher education and human service provision. The metaphor of maps is used as a framework for exploring the potential for transformational learning opportunities associated with alternative ways of thinking about teaching and learning. Countering the neoliberal tendency to depoliticise, metaphors of maps and map-reading, as discussed here and applied to social work education, evoke diverse perspectives and engagements in relation to the politics of knowledge, knowing, theory and practice. In emphasising the partiality of knowledge, the indivisibility of the ‘knower’ and the ‘known’ and, as such, the personal and the professional, efforts to cultivate critical consciousness, thus, enable different conversations. The central premise of this article is that in offering opportunities for engagement which open up rather than close down the space for meaningful dialogue, educators may contribute, in profound ways, to both student development and the (re)shaping of public discourse

Australian Social Work, 2012

This article delves into a relatively neglected aspect of feminist, or anti-oppressive practice, ... more This article delves into a relatively neglected aspect of feminist, or anti-oppressive practice, namely that of practitioners’ experiences of this work, and specifically, their personal and professional identifications with feminism. It explores the question: is feminism, in the context of feminist practice, something one does, a professional “persona” adopted at particular times and for particular purposes at work, or something one is, transcending—or linking—the personal and professional realms? Drawing upon a qualitative, exploratory study, this article investigates understandings of, and identifications with, feminism within the context of an area of practice, namely domestic violence intervention, which is explicitly feminist. It focuses on the relationship of the research participants, practitioners in this field, to feminism in terms of their identification with feminist principles. Paying attention to these issues has implications for feminist and other anti-oppressive ways of working, particularly where these are adopted by organisations as the required model of practice. The broader question, that of whether one needs to—or “should”—be (or identify as) feminist in order to engage in feminist practice, while beyond the scope of the current study, is critical, both for feminist theorising in general and in relation to specific concerns such as professional education, development, and supervision.

G. Mason, S. Milivojevic & M. Lee (Eds) The Australian and New Zealand Critical Criminology Conference Proceedings 2010., 2011

This paper focuses on constructions of violence, in particular the ways in which violence is cons... more This paper focuses on constructions of violence, in particular the ways in which violence is constructed
as a social problem in and through policy discourses. Inspired by an earlier study into the ways in
which practitioners, engaged in work with men who are violent towards their female partners,
construct and understand violence, this paper highlights the extent to which societal/cultural beliefs
regarding gender and violence are embedded at the levels of policy, ‘expert’ knowledge(s), and
practices. Illustrating the exercise of (gendered) power through knowledge in shaping Australian
government/agency responses and initiatives, it is argued that this has critical implications for the ways
in which ‘gender(ed) violence’ is conceptualised, named and addressed.

I. Goodwin-Smith (Ed.) Foucault 25 Years On: Refereed Conference Proceedings. , 2009

Foucault’s 'history of problematisations’ draws attention to the ways in which ‘things’ become ‘p... more Foucault’s 'history of problematisations’ draws attention to the ways in which ‘things’ become ‘problems’. This paper focuses on the dichotomisation and categorisation of violence as either serious/abnormal (non-gendered) violence or ‘domestic’ (gendered) violence, reflecting the transformation of some forms of violence into problem violence. Evident here, based on the findings of an exploratory study of the ways in which practitioners who work with male perpetrators of violence construct and understand violence, is the creation of particular realms of intervention, divided along disciplinary lines, each associated with distinct domains of knowledge, authority and expertise. In the process certain behaviours are ‘claimed’ as the ‘territory’ of a professional group. As Foucault emphasised,‘for knowledge to function as knowledge it must exercise power’ (2007, p. 71). Expertise thus performs a powerful exclusionary function, controlling who can speak authoritatively about an issue. I argue that this partitioning of certain behaviours, as representing particular types of problem and particular types of people and the ‘territory’ of some professional groups and not others, reflects the broader context of (gendered) power and disciplinary knowledge and has significant implications for the ways in which male violence is conceptualised, named and addressed.

Interconnecting the Violences of Men: Continuities and Intersections in Research, Policy and Activism, 2025

Fernwood Press (Winnipeg, Canada) In Understanding Violence and Abuse, Heather Fraser and Kate... more Fernwood Press (Winnipeg, Canada)

Prison masculinities: International perspectives and interpretations , 2022

Chapter 12, In T. Bartlett and R. Ricciardelli (Eds.).

Men and Masculinities, 2021

Australian Social Work, 2021

Australian Social Work, 2020

British Journal of Social Work, 2020

Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 2019

Australian Social Work, 2019

Sexualities, Jan 2019

International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 2018

Australian Journal of Social Issues, 2018

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, Jul 26, 2017

Social Work Education: The International Journal, Sep 2014

Australian Social Work, 2012

G. Mason, S. Milivojevic & M. Lee (Eds) The Australian and New Zealand Critical Criminology Conference Proceedings 2010., 2011

I. Goodwin-Smith (Ed.) Foucault 25 Years On: Refereed Conference Proceedings. , 2009

Gender, Work & Organization, 2009

This article explores the experiences of individuals who work with men who are violent, focusing ... more This article explores the experiences of individuals who work with men who are violent, focusing in particular on the differential gendered impacts of this area of practice. Violence intervention is widely recognized as work that is difficult, demanding and, frequently, confronting. It is less often recognized that such work is not only experienced differently by men and women, but significantly, that it may weigh more heavily, with impacts that are both broader and more profound, on the women working in this area. Building upon an understanding of the gendered nature of work and the workplace, this research reveals the distinctively gendered nature and impact of work with men who are violent, highlighting the complex interplay of gendered individuals, in the gendered workplace, in relation to a specifically gendered activity, that of men's violence.

Probation Journal , Mar 2009

Based on the findings of an exploratory study this article focuses on the ways in which a group o... more Based on the findings of an exploratory study this article focuses on the ways in which a group of South Australian practitioners, engaged in work with men who are violent towards their female partners, construct and understand male violence. Evident in the participants' understandings of violence is a tendency, firstly, to dichotomize violence into two `types' — that directed towards other men and that directed at women; and, secondly, to categorize violence as either `normal'/ unremarkable (male-to-male violence) or gendered (`domestic' violence). In distinguishing between gendered violence and `other' violence, such as that between men in the public sphere, the latter is constructed as `ordinary' violence, worthy of intervention in only certain, `extreme' or excessive, circumstances. It is argued that these understandings, based upon a conflation of masculinity and violence, reflect the broader context of gendered power, disciplinary knowledge and expertise, and have significant implications for the ways in which male violence is explained and addressed, and, in the Australian context, the associated marginalization of domestic violence as an area of professional intervention.

Proceedings of the Annual Higher Education Research and Development (HERDSA) Conference 2007: Enhancing Higher Education, Theory and Scholarship., 2007

This paper provides a reflective account of a teaching experience which explores the connections ... more This paper provides a reflective account of a teaching experience which explores the connections between (academic) teaching, knowledge and identity. The narrative metaphor of ‘maps of meaning’, as discussed by White and Denborough (2005), is used as a framework for this discussion of ways of thinking about and reflecting on teaching practice. The role of the teacher in facilitating open and constructive dialogue, countering the polarised, ‘win-lose’ nature of public discourse, is a central theme.

Qualitative Social Work, 2006

In this article I present an overview of my observations and experiences as a ‘new’ academic, and... more In this article I present an overview of my observations and experiences as a ‘new’ academic, and reflect upon these within the broader context of theorizing about power, knowledge and expertise. There are, I believe, connections to be drawn between my experiences-of my discomfort with the identity ‘academic’ and my struggles to recognize myself as an academic-and conventional understandings of what properly constitutes credible and reputable academic knowledge. Although this is, at least in part, a profoundly personal exercise in reflection, it has wider implications in terms of the intersections between academia and professional practice, which, I argue, are critical to the future viability of social work as a strong, dynamic and distinct profession.

Sexuality and Culture, 2003

Prisons are characterized by a hierarchical and antagonistic institutional culture. The processes... more Prisons are characterized by a hierarchical and antagonistic institutional culture. The processes of the managerial and work culture in violent organizations, such as the prison, incorporate an explicit focus on authority and compliance with rigid rules and procedures; in this context, difference attracts harassment and victimization. These processes also encompass the enactment of “ordinary” authority, the normalization of harassment, and the ways in which violence is embedded in routine conversations and explanations (Hearn, 1996; 55). Group relations can function to legitimize, socialize and reproduce the values and practices connected with violence (Morgan, 1987: 185). Thus a focus on peer group relations, between and within groups of officers and prisoners, is critical and may reveal that which we would rather not know: that the functioning of prisons may be actively and significantly counterproductive to their proclaimed task—the reduction of crime.

This thesis engages in critical policy analysis in order to examine the ways in which certain rep... more This thesis engages in critical policy analysis in order to examine the ways in which certain representations of violence are problematised in and through social policy. Underpinned by an understanding of policy as discourse based on the recognition that social, or policy, problems are created in and through discourse, particular attention is directed towards the ways in which discourses of violence rely upon and reproduce particular constructions of gender. Policy analysis, then, is used here to interrogate the presuppositions about gender and violence which shape the political/policy agenda, thereby limiting ‘what is talked about as possible or desirable, or as impossible or undesirable’ (Bacchi, 2000, p. 49). Focusing on the key federal policy areas of violence against women and children, health, and education, this thesis highlights, both, the extent to which discourses of gender and violence overlap and interrelate in policy constructions of violence and the implications that this has for Australian government responses to ‘violence’.

The extent to which (policy) constructions of violence reflect, embed and reinforce gender(ed) discourses represents a key finding of this thesis. The thesis further highlights the ways in which the naming of some violence(s) as ‘problem violences’ enable other violences to be represented as ‘understandable’ or unremarkable and, therefore, unproblematic. As argued here, gender, difference and identity, whilst key contexts for the construction, explanation, and experience of violence, are largely unacknowledged and undertheorised in current Australian policy approaches to ‘problem violence’. Dominant discourses of violence, gender and power thus enable violences to be represented as the problem of (gendered, classed, raced) ‘others’, providing a crucial means by which certain groups and behaviours are responsibilised and targeted for intervention. Discourses, then, also produce subjectivity/ies and it is in this sense that violence can be understood as the ‘site at which genders are produced’ (Shepherd, 2007, p. 249): the violence of gender.

) 'history of problematisations' draws attention to the ways in which 'things' become 'problems'.... more ) 'history of problematisations' draws attention to the ways in which 'things' become 'problems'. This paper focuses on the dichotomisation and categorisation of violence as either serious/abnormal (non-gendered) violence or 'domestic' (gendered) violence, reflecting the transformation of some forms of violence into problem violence. Evident here, based on the findings of an exploratory study of the ways in which practitioners who work with male perpetrators of violence construct and understand violence, is the creation of particular realms of intervention, divided along disciplinary lines, each associated with distinct domains of knowledge, authority and expertise. In the process certain behaviours are 'claimed' as the 'territory' of a professional group. As Foucault emphasised, 'for knowledge to function as knowledge it must exercise power ' (2007, p. 71). Expertise thus performs a powerful exclusionary function, controlling who can speak authoritatively about an issue. I argue that this partitioning of certain behaviours, as representing particular types of problem and particular types of people and the 'territory' of some professional groups and not others, reflects the broader context of (gendered) power and disciplinary knowledge and has significant implications for the ways in which male violence is conceptualised, named and addressed.

This paper provides a reflective account of a teaching experience which explores the connections ... more This paper provides a reflective account of a teaching experience which explores the connections between (academic) teaching, knowledge and identity. The narrative metaphor of 'maps of meaning', as discussed by , is used as a framework for this discussion of ways of thinking about and reflecting on teaching practice. The role of the teacher in facilitating open and constructive dialogue, countering the polarised, 'win-lose' nature of public discourse, is a central theme.

This paper focuses on constructions of violence, in particular the ways in which violence is cons... more This paper focuses on constructions of violence, in particular the ways in which violence is constructed as a social problem in and through policy discourses. Inspired by an earlier study into the ways in which practitioners, engaged in work with men who are violent towards their female partners, construct and understand violence, this paper highlights the extent to which societal/cultural beliefs regarding gender and violence are embedded at the levels of policy, ‘expert’ knowledge(s), and practices. Illustrating the exercise of (gendered) power through knowledge in shaping Australian government/agency responses and initiatives, it is argued that this has critical implications for the ways in which ‘gender(ed) violence’ is conceptualised, named and addressed.

In Understanding Violence and Abuse, Heather Fraser and Kate Seymour examine violence and abuse f... more In Understanding Violence and Abuse, Heather Fraser and Kate Seymour examine violence and abuse from an anti-oppressive practice perspective and make connections between interpersonal violence and structural, institutional and cultural violence. Using case studies from Canada, the U.K., the U.S., Australia, Bangladesh, India and elsewhere, the authors discuss topics ranging from class oppression, street violence, white privilege, war, shame, Islamophobia and abuse in intimate relationships, as well as introduce the core tenets of anti-oppressive social work practice. They encourage readers to reflect upon hierarchies of identity and difference in relation to the ways in which violence and abuse are defined, understood and addressed. Further, they discuss several responses to violence using an anti-oppressive framework.

This paper focuses on constructions of violence, in particular the ways in which violence is cons... more This paper focuses on constructions of violence, in particular the ways in which violence is constructed as a social problem in and through policy discourses. Inspired by an earlier study into the ways in which practitioners, engaged in work with men who are violent towards their female partners, construct and understand violence, this paper highlights the extent to which societal/cultural beliefs regarding gender and violence are embedded at the levels of policy, ‘expert’ knowledge(s), and practices. Illustrating the exercise of (gendered) power through knowledge in shaping Australian government/agency responses and initiatives, it is argued that this has critical implications for the ways in which ‘gender(ed) violence’ is conceptualised, named and addressed.

Men and Masculinities, 2021

This article critically interrogates the ways in which men's talk about domestic and family v... more This article critically interrogates the ways in which men's talk about domestic and family violence (DFV) and change reproduce gender hierarchies which are themselves productive of violence. Drawing on interviews with men who have completed a perpetrator program and building on the work of Hearn (1998), we show that these men’s conceptualizations of change both reflect and contribute to the discursive construction of masculinity, responsibility, and violence. By reflecting on men’s representations of change—and of themselves as “changed” men—we argue that DFV perpetrator interventions constitute a key site for the performance of dominant masculinities, reproducing the gendered discourses underpinning and enabling men’s violence.

Australian Social Work, 2021

Mandara, M., Wendt, S., McLaren, H., Jones, M., Dunk-West, P., & Seymour, K. Domestic and... more Mandara, M., Wendt, S., McLaren, H., Jones, M., Dunk-West, P., & Seymour, K. Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a pervasive social problem that social workers often encounter in practice. Responses to DFV require specialist and non-specialist services. Research suggests that first contact social workers can experience a lack of confidence, both in engaging with men who use violence and working with women and children who disclose experiencing violence. This article reports on the findings of an Australian survey (N = 100) that sought to identify the knowledge and practice skills that social workers draw on when they are the first responders to DFV. The survey invited qualified social worker participants from all sectors across Australia through the national online bulletins of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and Child Family Community Australia (CFCA). Whilst 28% of the respondents demonstrated working in specialist DFV and child protection sectors, 72% worked in other sectors. The research found that most participants recognised signs of DFV, but responses were mainly focused on referring women victims to practical or accommodation support, and children to psychological support. Responding to perpetrators was rarely mentioned. Equipping non-specialist DFV practitioners with knowledge and skills to respond safely can create an opportunity for engagement, earlier intervention, and increased interagency collaboration with specialist services.

New Perspectives on Prison Masculinities, 2018

That men’s prisons are grounded in, and dominated by, a narrowly conceived ideal of masculinity i... more That men’s prisons are grounded in, and dominated by, a narrowly conceived ideal of masculinity is a widely accepted “truth”. Representing the antithesis of the feminine, made real through the exclusion of women and of “weaker” men, the masculinity of the prison—of physicality, toughness, control and aggression—has endured, remarkably consistently, over time and across a range of institutional forms and structures. Nonetheless, the truth about masculinity, and prison masculinities in particular, is—like all “truths”—considerably more complex and nuanced. This chapter explores the complexities and contradictions of the prison as the setting in which some men are compelled to live and other men and women choose to work. The discussion incorporates two, interrelated, themes; firstly, I consider the ways in which masculinities are invoked within the prison, in and through relations within and between prisoners and prison officers, with particular focus on the multifarious manifestations and performances of masculinities in this context. Hierarchies of difference constitute the structural and cultural context for violence in prisons as in society; thus while violence is not inherently male, it is closely intertwined with relations of power including those of gender, “race”, ethnicity, class, sexuality and so on. Accordingly, the latter part of the chapter focuses on the significance of discourses of violence for identity work in prisons, specifically in relation to the ways in which these reflect and maintain certain discourses of masculinity.

Australian Social Work, 2020

ABSTRACT The contribution professional supervision makes to quality services, staff satisfaction,... more ABSTRACT The contribution professional supervision makes to quality services, staff satisfaction, and retention is well recognised across social work and human service settings. Yet frequent supervision is difficult to provide where organisational resources are limited and urgent client-related tasks must take priority. In these contexts, group-based supervision may offer an alternative to traditional individual approaches, yet its impacts have been infrequently researched. Using survey data (n = 917), we examine the prevalence of individual and group-based supervision among practitioners delivering domestic and family violence and sexual assault services (DFVSA), and associations these forms of supervision have with staff retention. While individual supervision remains most common, one in eight practitioners report that they never receive it. Multivariate analysis indicates frequent individual supervision is most effective for retaining practitioners. This provides empirical support for prioritising individual supervision within strategies for promoting workforce sustainability and service quality in DFVSA and other social service settings. IMPLICATIONS Individual supervision remains more common than group-based approaches in domestic and family violence and sexual assault services. Workplaces should consider prioritising individual supervision over group supervision when attempting to improve practitioner retention. Managers should adopt a critical stance and consider evidence when assessing the implications of adopting group-based approaches to supervision.

Australian Journal of Social Issues, 2018

Sexualities, 2017

This thesis engages in critical policy analysis to examine the ways in which violence is problema... more This thesis engages in critical policy analysis to examine the ways in which violence is problematised in social policy. The extent to which (policy) constructions of violence reflect and reinforce gender(ed) discourses, as manifest in the naming of some violence(s) as ‘problem violences’ and not others, represents a key finding of this thesis.

Social Work Education, 2014

Probation Journal, 2009

This paper focuses on constructions of violence, in particular the ways in which violence is cons... more This paper focuses on constructions of violence, in particular the ways in which violence is constructed as a social problem in and through policy discourses. Inspired by an earlier study into the ways in which practitioners, engaged in work with men who are violent towards their female partners, construct and understand violence, this paper highlights the extent to which societal/cultural beliefs regarding gender and violence are embedded at the levels of policy, 'expert' knowledge(s), and practices. Illustrating the exercise of (gendered) power through knowledge in shaping Australian government/agency responses and initiatives, it is argued that this has critical implications for the ways in which 'gender(ed) violence' is conceptualised, named and addressed.

unisa.edu.au

Foucault's (2007, p. 141) 'history of problematisations' draws attention to the ways in which 'th... more Foucault's (2007, p. 141) 'history of problematisations' draws attention to the ways in which 'things' become 'problems'. This paper focuses on the dichotomisation and categorisation of violence as either serious/abnormal (non-gendered) violence or 'domestic' (gendered) violence, reflecting the transformation of some forms of violence into problem violence. Evident here, based on the findings of an exploratory study of the ways in which practitioners who work with male perpetrators of violence construct and understand violence, is the creation of particular realms of intervention, divided along disciplinary lines, each associated with distinct domains of knowledge, authority and expertise. In the process certain behaviours are 'claimed' as the 'territory' of a professional group. As Foucault emphasised, 'for knowledge to function as knowledge it must exercise power' (2007, p. 71). Expertise thus performs a powerful exclusionary function, controlling who can speak authoritatively about an issue. I argue that this partitioning of certain behaviours, as representing particular types of problem and particular types of people and the 'territory' of some professional groups and not others, reflects the broader context of (gendered) power and disciplinary knowledge and has significant implications for the ways in which male violence is conceptualised, named and addressed.

Contemporary Sociology, 1981

WOMEN IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: AN OVERVIEW During the last 20 years, there has been a prof... more WOMEN IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: AN OVERVIEW During the last 20 years, there has been a profound change in the manner in which women are treated within the criminal justice system. This has been a result of more expansive law enforcement efforts, stiffer drug sentencing laws, and post-conviction barriers to reentry that uniquely affect women. In response, the consideration of a gender-specific approach to studying criminal justice policy has moved from a mere footnote to a full-fledged reform movement. GROWTH OF WOMEN UNDER CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION • More than one million women are currently under the supervision of the criminal justice system in the U.S. 1 • More than 200,000 of these women are confined in state and federal prisons or local jails. 2 • Expanding at 4.6% annually between 1995 and 2005, women now account for 7% of the population in state and federal prisons. 3 1 This figure includes an estimated 956,200 women on probation and 93,000 on parole in 2005.

Australian Social Work, 2012

Article usage statistics combine cumulative total PDF downloads and full-text HTML views from pub... more Article usage statistics combine cumulative total PDF downloads and full-text HTML views from publication date (but no earlier than 25 Jun 2011, launch date of this website) to 15 Feb 2013. Article views are only counted from this site. Although these data are updated every 24 hours, there may be a 48-hour delay before the most recent numbers are available.