Ending Violence against Women and Girls A Critical Reframing

Despite decades of concentrated energy and focus on ending violence against women and girls, the prevalence of multiple forms of violence in many parts of the world remains high and in some instances is increasing. This book argues that meaningful progress can only be made if we critically reframe both the theory and practice of gendered approaches to development. The book considers the ways in which western ideologies still predominantly associate violence against women with a black male body. Locating ‘the problem’ in such a static and narrow way fails to acknowledge the misogynistic and racialised underpinnings of a geo-political system in which a marginalised ‘other’ is maintained through the legitimatisation of violence. Drawing on decades of work bridging theory and practice, this book argues that white, Western male power needs to be replaced with an approach controlled by those who live with the consequences and legacy of decades of multiple forms of violence. Considering examples of agency and activism from across the world, the book argues that only by joining up individual, community, and global efforts will we achieve the gendered transformation needed to finally end violence against women and girls. Covering both the theory and practice of gendered approaches to development, this important critical analysis will be an essential read for researchers, students and practitioners working on ending violence against women and girls.