Tackling men's violence in families: Nordic issues and dilemmas

Description

Nordic countries are generally regarded as global welfare role models in terms of their image of being gender equal, child-friendly and culturally tolerant. Consequently, the influence of Nordic welfare systems in transnational academic and policy debates has been immense. By focusing on the vital welfare issue of violence by men to female partners and/or their children, this book seeks to reconsider this over-simplistic image. Drawing on new research from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, the book critically examines how men's violence in families is perceived and responded to in the Nordic context. It pays particular attention to the links between violence to women and violence to children, children's perspectives, professional discourses and responses, and legal and policy approaches. With clear links between research, policy and practice, the book is highly relevant to a wide audience, including academics, researchers and students in the fields of social work, health, criminology, sociology, social policy, gender studies, European studies and law. It is also recommended reading for welfare managers, practitioners, and policy makers.

Maria Eriksson PhD is a research co-ordinator for the Nordic Council of Ministers, based at Goteborg University, Sweden. Marianne Hester is Professor of Gender, Violence and International Policy at the University of Bristol. Suvi Keskinen is a post-doctoral researcher at Abo Akademi University, Finland. Keith Pringle is Professor of Social Work at Aalborg University, Denmark and Visiting Professor of Sociology at University College Malardalen, Sweden.

"This book provides a welcome focus on men's violence, its family impact and what can be done about it. Lessons for UK academics and practitioners are both implicit and explicit, from the socio-legal context to the need for continued vigilance in the community. If enlightened countries such as those covered here cannot guarantee safety for women and children, then there is something about men's violent behaviour and society's sanctioning of it that we all need to think about and work to change. This book will help us along that road." Audrey Mullender, Principal, Ruskin College, Oxford