Crip & Queer seminar: The temporalities of violence and help-seeking in lesbian and queer relationships

Abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has traditionally been framed as men’s violence against women with a strong focus on physical violence. The act of leaving an abusive partner is often portrayed as the starting point for seeking help against violence. However, these perspectives have also meant that certain groups of victims, violations and help-seeking processes become unrecognizable. In this presentation, I draw on empirical work from my ongoing PhD project for which I interviewed 25 people who have experienced violence in intimate lesbian and/or queer relationships. I address the lack of a cultural narrative to understand IPV in non-heterosexual relationships and the consequences this can have for seeking help. I address IPV as slow, non-linear and repeated process, which manifests itself over time. The help-seeking process of victim-survivors of IPV will often mirror the violence experienced and I shall emphasize the significance of subtle, aborted and failed attempts in the help-seeking processes.       

Presenter: Nicole Ovesen, PhD Candidate in Gender Studies, Uppsala University

Particpants must register to receive a link to the seminar. Please register to this seminar here.