Community Organizing and Counter Narratives in the Response to Domestic Violence in India

Menon, Suvarna V.; Allen, Nicole E.

doi:10.1002/ajcp.12426

Cited by 14 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…Specifically, this study was conducted after over 7 years of the agency’s engagement with this community. As mentioned earlier, data from this study come from a larger study (see Menon & Allen, in press). Some disconfirming evidence was found in terms of the broader narratives on domestic violence that still emphasize a silencing of violence and an acceptance and normalization of violence (see Menon & Allen, in press for details).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As mentioned earlier, data from this study come from a larger study (see Menon & Allen, in press). Some disconfirming evidence was found in terms of the broader narratives on domestic violence that still emphasize a silencing of violence and an acceptance and normalization of violence (see Menon & Allen, in press for details). Similarly, some disconfirming evidence was found for other aspects of the agency’s work (e.g., cases of domestic violence falling through and not being seen to completion).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data for this study come from a larger study (see Menon & Allen, in press). The study was conducted following approval by the University institutional review board (IRB).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community Organizing and Transformative Change in the Response to Domestic Violence in India

Menon

Allen

2020

American J of Comm Psychol

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Pervasive cultural narratives that normalize domestic violence have made efforts to respond to domestic violence in India challenging. An effective response to domestic violence in India needs to be transformative in nature, supporting the empowerment of survivors of violence and empowering communities to support survivors. Various studies have highlighted the importance of settings like grassroots organizations for promoting empowerment of members through community organizing. This qualitative study builds on this growing body of research using a grassroots agency in India as an exemplar to understand (a) empowering processes at the individual and community level associated with the agency’s community organizing efforts; and (b) salient mechanisms associated with social change and action in the response to domestic violence in the community. At the individual level, the agency’s organizing efforts provided knowledge, skills and resources, and opportunities for participation and leadership. At the community level, the agency engages in capacity building and increases social capital of members. The mechanisms that emerged as salient were increased critical consciousness of members, an emphasis on breaking the silence around domestic violence, community trust and cohesion, and capacity for informal social control. Implications of our findings for intervention and prevention work are discussed. Highlights Community organizing is an important avenue for change in the response to domestic violence. Community organizing can facilitate empowering processes like participation and leadership. Building capacity and social capital is central to facilitating empowerment of communities.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community Organizing and Transformative Change in the Response to Domestic Violence in India

Menon

Allen

2020

American J of Comm Psychol

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“…Empowerment of survivors has been conceptualized as a more reasonable proximal outcome for agencies to strive for, that may lead to other distal outcomes such as safety (Cattaneo & Goodman, 2014). Indeed, empowerment is often regarded as one of the central goals for community-based agencies and advocacy groups when working with survivors of violence (Cattaneo & Goodman, 2014;Goodman & Epstein, 2008;Kasturiranjan, 2008;Menon & Allen, 2020a). Survivor-centered models that emphasize empowerment of survivors have been adopted by grassroots and advocacy agencies in the United States (e.g., Davies & Lyon, 2014;Sullivan & Bybee, 1999).…”

Section: Empowerment and Domestic Violencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…NGOs and their empowerment programs can be placed on a continuum from economic-oriented models to social empowerment models that focus on social mobilization (Thornton et al, 2000). The agency in the present study aimed at adopting a hybrid approach to empowerment, by focusing on social mobilization and change in response to domestic violence (see Menon & Allen, 2020a, 2020b for a review), promoting critical consciousness among survivors and community members (see Menon & Allen, 2020b;Subramanium, 2012, for reviews), and economic empowerment by encouraging self-reliance of survivors and providing them access to resources relevant to their goals. Given the important role grassroots agencies can play in the lives of domestic violence survivors, strengthening their empowerment, promoting their agency, and facilitating their access to resources (e.g., knowledge, community resources), it is important to examine the ways in which agencies are able to fulfill this role.…”

Section: Empowerment and Civil Society Organizationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empowering Practices With Domestic Violence Survivors in India

Menon

Allen

2021

Violence Against Women

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There is a growing concern about women’s safety in India. This study examined a grassroots agency’s response to domestic violence in the community by examining their empowerment-focused work with survivors through crisis intervention centers. Multi-informant perspectives examined (a) the organizational process of facilitating or strengthening empowerment of survivors and (b) the mechanisms central to this process. Results highlight various salient mechanisms, namely, the adoption of a survivor-centered approach, collaborative relationships with staff, meeting women where they are, systems advocacy, fostering independence, and building long-term networks with formal and informal supports. Implications for intervention and prevention work are discussed.

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“It's a place to feel like part of the community”: Counterspace, inclusion, and empowerment in a drop‐in center for homeless and marginalized women

Toolis

Dutt

Wren

et al. 2022

American J of Comm Psychol

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In the context of rising inequality and eroding safety nets for marginalized communities, research is needed to demonstrate the ways in which settings can facilitate community, agency, and capabilities for low‐income women. The purpose of this study is to examine if and how an organizational setting designed to support homeless, low‐income, and other marginalized women can facilitate empowering changes and increased wellbeing among the women who participate. A thematic analysis of interviews conducted with 22 participants who attend a women's day center identified three ways in which the organizational setting impacted women's lived experiences: (a) increasing a sense of agency through acceptance, active and participatory roles, and ownership over the physical environment, (b) promoting a sense of community through rituals of care and attentiveness, alleviated social isolation, and mutual relationships, and (c) improving life circumstances by offering a safe environment, access to basic resources such as housing, and support for health and wellbeing. Findings highlight the setting features and psychosocial processes that foster flourishing and resist patterns of exclusion and devaluation imposed on marginalized women by dominant neoliberal values, institutions, and policies.

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Community Organizing and Counter Narratives in the Response to Domestic Violence in India

Cited by 14 publications

References 41 publications

Community Organizing and Transformative Change in the Response to Domestic Violence in India

Community Organizing and Transformative Change in the Response to Domestic Violence in India

Empowering Practices With Domestic Violence Survivors in India

“It's a place to feel like part of the community”: Counterspace, inclusion, and empowerment in a drop‐in center for homeless and marginalized women

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