Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-03-12DOI: 10.1177/10778012251323863
Tessa Gillies-Goldsmith, Melanie A Beres, Rachel Zajac
{"title":"\"Although Her Words Said No, Her Actions Spoke Otherwise\": Potential Jurors' Understanding of the \"Reasonable Belief\" Element of Sexual Assault Law.","authors":"Tessa Gillies-Goldsmith, Melanie A Beres, Rachel Zajac","doi":"10.1177/10778012251323863","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251323863","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual assault laws in several jurisdictions require jurors to consider whether a defendant \"reasonably believed\" in consent. Using thematic analysis, we explored how potential jurors (<i>N</i> = 50) make judgments about consent communication and the behaviors that, when informed by the reasonable belief standard, are perceived to communicate (non)consent. Two themes captured the perception that consent is something that is implied, while non-consent is explicit. This narrative supports legal scholars' concerns that the reasonable belief standard is applied in inappropriate ways-prioritizing a defendant's sense of implied consent over a complainant's attempt to refuse and failing to consider the defendant's honesty.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1316-1339"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13018249/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-03-12DOI: 10.1177/10778012251323268
Sara Skoog Waller, Ulla Forinder
{"title":"Speaking Through Silence: The Lonelification at the Core of Domestic Abuse.","authors":"Sara Skoog Waller, Ulla Forinder","doi":"10.1177/10778012251323268","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251323268","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article is based on narratives from 20 women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse (DVA). Based on in-depth interviews, we explored their lived experiences of the mechanisms and meanings of loneliness in the context of DVA. The women experienced social and existential loneliness, not as passive consequences of victimization, but through active isolating and <i>lonely-making</i> tactics inflicted on them by the abusers, as well as through responses from personal and professional networks and institutions. We present the concept <i>lonelification</i> to offer a framework for the understanding of lonely-making as a core aspect of DVA, which targets women's sense of self, reality, and connectedness.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1056-1079"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13018244/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1177/10778012261425944
Jane Mahon, Martin D Schwartz
{"title":"Commentary: The Current and Future State of Research on Violence Against Women in Sport.","authors":"Jane Mahon, Martin D Schwartz","doi":"10.1177/10778012261425944","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012261425944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>For far too long, the abuse of women within sport environments has been overlooked. This special issue highlights the growing interest and research on violence against women in sport. However, methodological challenges, such as inconsistent conceptualization and operationalization of what constitutes sport and violence against women, continue to hinder our understanding of the scope of this problem. We recommend that future research adopt similar terms, definitions, and measurement tools to improve comparability and consistency across studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1996-2007"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147310979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-03-12DOI: 10.1177/10778012251323267
Laura Tarzia, Carolina Navarro Medel, Elizabeth McLindon, Paulina Ezer, Helen Forbes-Mewett, Ly Thi Tran, Adele Murdolo, Kelsey Hegarty
{"title":"Experiences of Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Among Women International Students in Australia.","authors":"Laura Tarzia, Carolina Navarro Medel, Elizabeth McLindon, Paulina Ezer, Helen Forbes-Mewett, Ly Thi Tran, Adele Murdolo, Kelsey Hegarty","doi":"10.1177/10778012251323267","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251323267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual violence (SV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) in tertiary institutions have received increased attention in Australia and globally, however, international students have been largely neglected in academic and policy discourse. Little is known about the nature and frequency of SV and IPV experienced by these students, nor what sociodemographic factors are associated with victimization. This article reports on a national cross-sectional survey of 1,491 women international students in Australia. Findings suggest that both SV and IPV are common among women international students and primarily perpetrated by men. Social support, housing stress, and financial insecurity were associated with an increased likelihood of victimization, highlighting critical areas for improvement in government policies and tertiary institutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1080-1103"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13018259/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of Obstetric Violence on Traumatic Childbirth Perception Among Turkish Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Merve Mert-Karadas, Cansu Akdag Topal, Fatma Uslu-Sahan, Sevda Yildirim","doi":"10.1177/10778012251409162","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251409162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to examine whether obstetric violence predicts traumatic childbirth perception among women. This cross-sectional study included 307 women who gave birth within the healthcare system. Data were collected via an online survey using validated scales. Findings showed moderate levels of traumatic childbirth perception, with obstetric violence significantly associated with higher perceptions of trauma. Marital status, psychological history, pregnancy planning, conception method, and prenatal education attendance also influenced perception. These factors together explained 25.8% of the variance. Promoting respectful maternity care and trauma-informed practices is crucial for improving maternal mental health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1237-1255"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13018253/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145834744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-03-19DOI: 10.1177/10778012251329370
Adam Lankford, Jason R Silva
{"title":"Public Mass Shooters Who Target Specific Women: An Empirical Analysis of Target-Offender Relationships, Timing, and Key Characteristics.","authors":"Adam Lankford, Jason R Silva","doi":"10.1177/10778012251329370","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251329370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>For this study, we closely examined public mass shooters who targeted specific women and quantitatively compared them to other shooters. Results indicate that nearly one-quarter (24%) of public mass shooters in the United States have targeted specific women, the target-offender relationship was usually romantic/sexual or familial, and 80% of the targeted women were ultimately killed. Compared to other mass shooters, perpetrators who targeted specific women more often (1) had a history of sex offending and domestic abuse, (2) were divorced/separated, (3) had experienced a recent breakup, and (4) had several other key characteristics. Implications for violence prevention and future research are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1360-1381"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143658849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-04-16DOI: 10.1177/10778012251329357
Noelle M St Vil, Kathleen A Parks
{"title":"Assessing the Need for Adapting a Measure of Sexual Assault Risk Perception to be Culturally Specific for Black College Women.","authors":"Noelle M St Vil, Kathleen A Parks","doi":"10.1177/10778012251329357","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251329357","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Using a mixed methods approach, this study sought feedback from Black college women (<i>n</i> = 60) on an existing Video Vignette Risk Perception Measure (VVRPM) developed for assessing women's awareness of behavioral and environmental risk cues of sexual assault. Findings from this study suggest that the current VVRPM is not an accurate measure for assessing SA risk cue awareness in Black college women as it is not culturally congruent with their lived experiences (e.g., dress, lighting, music, activities). Incorporation of this feedback will be important for modifying the VVRPM to be culturally specific for use with Black college women.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1271-1290"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144026095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-03-12DOI: 10.1177/10778012251324890
Lakma Gunarathne, Pragalathan Apputhurai, Maja Nedeljkovic, Jahar Bhowmik
{"title":"Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence Among Married Women: A Multilevel Analysis Across 20 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.","authors":"Lakma Gunarathne, Pragalathan Apputhurai, Maja Nedeljkovic, Jahar Bhowmik","doi":"10.1177/10778012251324890","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251324890","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread issue, particularly affecting married women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where cultural norms often lead to its acceptance. Using data from national demographic and health surveys and a two-level hierarchical model, this study examines factors affecting IPV acceptance among married women in 20 LMICs. Studies show that higher education, greater wealth, decision-making power, urban residency, and older age at marriage all reduce IPV acceptance. Furthermore, surveys from 2019 to 2022 indicate a decline in acceptance of IPV. In LMICs, targeted interventions need to be implemented to reduce IPV and increase gender equality.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1039-1055"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13018246/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1177/10778012251323233
Marta Garcia-Molsosa, Carme Montserrat, Pere Soler-Masó, Edgar Iglesias, Anna Planas-Lladó
{"title":"Is Detecting Gender-Based Violence Part of Teachers' Work?","authors":"Marta Garcia-Molsosa, Carme Montserrat, Pere Soler-Masó, Edgar Iglesias, Anna Planas-Lladó","doi":"10.1177/10778012251323233","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251323233","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schools could play a role in detecting gender-based violence at home, but some difficulties are detected by literature, including teachers' anxieties and distress. The aim of this study is to analyze teachers' perceptions and beliefs about their role, and what obstacles they perceive in detecting these situations. 322 teachers from 86 schools answered a questionnaire. The results show that students do not tend to communicate these situations, and teachers consider that they need to be more involved. Lack of training, difficulties in coordination, lack of trusting relationships with students, and mistaken beliefs among teachers, were the main obstacles.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1207-1236"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Violence Against WomenPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-03-25DOI: 10.1177/10778012251329259
Leslie M Tutty, H Lorraine Radtke, Kendra L Nixon
{"title":"\"It Just Rips My Heart Out\": Child Custody Dispositions After Women Leave Abusive Partners.","authors":"Leslie M Tutty, H Lorraine Radtke, Kendra L Nixon","doi":"10.1177/10778012251329259","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10778012251329259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Family court child custody dispositions for women who have left violent partners can result in complications and difficulties. This secondary analysis of data from 2005 to 2009 describes the child custody dispositions of 369 Canadian women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) (48.5% Indigenous, 44.7% White, and 6.4% Visible Minority). Of these, the most common court disposition was mothers receiving sole custody (38.9%), then those who did not use formal custody (34.5%), joint custody (13.3%), fathers receiving sole custody (4.4%), and family court still in progress (8.8%). Mothers' perspectives about these dispositions were qualitatively analyzed. Implications for researchers and practitioners are presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":23606,"journal":{"name":"Violence Against Women","volume":" ","pages":"1126-1149"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13018247/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}