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Title:	Men’s intimate partner abuse and control : reconciling paradoxical masculinities and social contradictions: a thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Author:	Murphy, Clare
Publisher:	Queensland University of Technology
Location:	Brisbane
Date:	2009
Description:	457 p. ; computer file : PDF format (3.49Mb)
Summary:	This doctoral thesis aims to deepen predominant ways of thinking about men’s intimate partner abuse by using a theoretical framework compatible with contemporary feminist scholarship. The author synthesises Cornell’s theory of masculinities with Bourdieu’s field theory in order to explore complex understandings of manliness and men’s relationship with other adults and social structures. The thesis is based on in-depth interviews with 16 able bodied men of European ancestry born and educated in New Zealand or Australia who have been physically violent and/ or emotionally, intellectually, sexually or financially controlling of a live-in female partner. The author finds men’s perpetration of power and control over women is driven by their need to avoid the stigma of appearing weak. Consequently they suppress their desire to show love and empathy to pursue a presumed honourable manliness, looking for acceptance from other men. The research also explores the interplay between masculine practices and social contexts. For example, the practices of those in authority influence the decision making of the men in the study with respect to whether they use physical or psychological violence. The author concludes that for intimate partner abuse to cease, changes in power structures must occur at all levels in society.
Topic Areas:	Intimate partner abuse, Perpetrators/offenders, Gender
Keywords:	DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; MEN; GENDER DIFFERENCE; CULTURAL ISSUES; PARTNER ABUSE; OFFENDERS; PHYSICAL ABUSE; PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE; GENDER; ABUSIVE MEN; NEW ZEALAND
	PhD_Thesis_C_Murphy.pdf (size 3.49 Mb)
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MSD Identifier:	116108
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