'Do you want to do some arm wrestling?': children's strategies when experiencing domestic violence and the meaning of age. Issue 2 (8th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Överlien, Carolina
• Is Part Of: Child & family social work. Volume 22:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 680
• Page End: 688
• Publication Date: 2016-03-08
• Subjects: child abuse -- domestic violence -- sociology of childhood -- violence (against women and children); Social work with children -- Periodicals; Family social work -- Periodicals; 362.7
• DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-7500

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study is, by analysing children's and young people's discourses, to investigate their strategies in response to domestic violence episodes, in relation to their age. The empirical data come from individual interviews with children and young people (ages 8–20 years) who had experienced domestic violence and lived at refuges for abused women. The thematic analysis shows that the children describe a wide range of strategies before, during and after a violent episode, that all children act regardless of age and that strategies vary according not only to age but also to situation and context. The theoretical framework used is the sociology of childhood, and the analysis engages with theoretical concepts of age, agency and positioning.