I stand by our country's legal system, that someone is innocent until proven guilty and is entitled to a fair trial. But it is difficult not to comment on the issues of the #CarolineFlack case as someone who researches women's perpetration of intimate partner violence 1/
Women's use of violence and abuse against partners is a very real thing. It is not always self-defence, just as it is not always a pattern of behaviours (note - this applies to men too). But it can have very serious consequences that are often largely ignored 2/
In this case, according to media reports, the victim phoned 999 asking for someone to attend b'cos he feared for his life. If we don't take female violence against partners seriously, or always view it through the lens of self-defence, the following are the potential problems 3/
1. Male victims won't ask for help when needed and could continue to suffer abuse
2. Females who have been violent won't get the help they need to stop being violent and abusive
3. Children in these relationships will experience the trauma of violence and abuse 4/
2. Females who have been violent won't get the help they need to stop being violent and abusive
3. Children in these relationships will experience the trauma of violence and abuse 4/
4. We won't understand *why* someone has got to this point on their lives and be able to offer them help - my research showed that for both women AND men who perpetrate intimate partner violence, they are likely to have experienced previous trauma, have experienced 5/
difficult relationships growing up, have difficulties managing their 'self', and have ongoing problems with their mental health, relationships and continued trauma. A whole range of situational and internal triggers then make it more likely that violence will occur 6/
We need to understand each individual's circumstance, and we need interventions that offer an individualised, trauma-informed approach to helping people (both women and men) change their problematic behaviour - crucially, without blaming someone's gender 🤷 7/END
Sorry, one more to add - let's also not forget female victims of female perpetrators. A further hidden facet of intimate partner violence that we need to know much more about! 8/REALLY THE END
