WUNRN
Direct Link to Full 150-Page New
Zealand Report:
The
practices of dominance and entitlement that emerge from social and cultural
pressures can no longer be considered “natural” or “just the way things are”
for men and women. Young people’s actions in relationships become informed
conscious choices.
The
intention of this research is that the knowledge uncovered can be employed to
construct new curricula in schools and to inform existing curricula which work
towards the early intervention and the prevention of domestic violence. It is
hoped that these curricula will involve critically reflecting on our cultural
heritage - questioning historical and current media representations and other
institutional practices that promote ways of being which work against ethical
and just behaviour in boyfriend/girlfriend relationships - and promoting
egalitarian relationships which appear to protect women from men’s domestic
violence.
This
research demonstrates that qualitative research of this nature can provide
important knowledge about the relationship between culture and violence and can
usefully inform early intervention and prevention practices.