Home is where the hurt is: conceptions of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The world over, people are becoming ever increasingly concerned about the prevalence with which domestic abuse occurs. Notwithstanding a well supported series of policy interventions which have developed out of long-term social and intellectual engagement, domestic abuse does not seem to be going away. It is on this ground that this thesis sits. The question emerged of whether there is simply nothing more to be done, or whether there are limitations to current understandings and practices that a consideration of the kind of analytical tools Foucault’s work could offer an examination of discourses of domestic abuse. Foucault encouraged the questioning of a particular understanding of domestic abuse, where radical feminist discourses were perceived to be rendering visible the needs of victims by putting into action the demands of a pre-existing group of women.

In this study, Foucault’s insights were used to explore some of the complex, heterogeneous and nuanced ways in which domestic abuse is put into discourse. Relying on Foucault’s work facilitated a rethinking of radical feminist discourses of domestic abuse and how they operate, producing varying power effects. In this thesis it was contended that radical feminist concerns are not compromised by a turn to Foucault rather such a turn presents an opportunity to redevelop them. The argument laid out in this thesis was that by acknowledging the conceptual limitations of radical feminist discourses of domestic abuse which continue to influence contemporary opinion does not inevitably lead to the demise of radical feminist politics, for recognising the subject as politically invested does not undermine political engagement with the issue of domestic abuse, it opens it up.

This thesis argued that despite being commonly portrayed through the language of radical feminist discourses, the discursive arena of domestic abuse is a site of controversy and conflict, invested with meanings that differ over time and place. As such, domestic abuse cannot be thought of as something that exists outside of the situated knowledge through which its taken-for-granted nature is brought into being and sustained.

This thesis concluded by arguing for an agenda for change, underpinned by an understanding of the situational nature of domestic abuse and a fluid conception of gender which appreciates the complex and multi-dimensional nature of an abusive relationship.

Date of Award	May 2013
Original language	English
Supervisor	Fidelma Ashe (Supervisor) & Eugene McNamee (Supervisor)