The Effects of Violence Against Women

This paper is addressing a theoretical review of the violence against women, as reported and described by world health and human rights organizations, but also by women's advocacy and NGOs for women's rights. There were sketched the main definitions and framing of the acts of violence against girls and women, as well as the effects of violence against women, individually – on the physical, emotional, and mental health of the victim - and socially, in terms of long-term costs in providing support and specialized treatment to victims and their caregivers.

Girls’ Perspectives on Gendered Violence in Rural Sweden: Photovoice as a Method for Increased Knowledge and Social Change

Research has shown for decades that gendered violence against girls and women is a major public health problem with devastating long-term health consequences for individuals and communities alike. Knowledge of gendered violence against girls and young women thus needs to be increased not only in urban, but also in rural areas, and from girls’ own perspectives. Research methods should also be developed that will facilitate the possibility of reaching policy makers, i.e. to reach those with the power to bring about social change. This study had two main goals. The first was to use photovoice as a methodology to gain increased knowledge about gendered violence against girls and young women in rural Sweden, while the second was to discuss the potential of reaching social change through photovoice as well as offer some critique. We worked with 35 adolescent girls enrolled in an upper secondary school in rural Sweden. Six workshops, which focused on (un)safety, different forms of violence, and the consequences of violence, were analyzed with an action-oriented approach and content analysis. The photovoice material also resulted in an exhibition that was used to reach policy makers. The findings show that the girls’ ability to control their own lives was limited and that a number of different situations in their everyday lives were related to a reduced sense of space and reduced sense of agency. The findings also highlight that the girls were constantly sexually harassed online, which created a feeling of being unable to escape. We argue that photovoice is suitable in mediating girls’ perspectives and in engaging and informing key policy makers, although the method alone cannot assure social change.