Globally, nationally and locally men's violence against women is an endemic social problem and an enduring human rights issue. Unlike men who are most likely to be victims of stranger assaults and violence, official data shows that women are most likely to be attacked, beaten, raped and killed by men known to them - either partners or family members. Research has maintained that to challenge and prevent men's violence against women, changing the attitudes and behaviour of young people is essential. This ground-breaking book presents the first investigation into what younger people think about men's violence against women. It does this by locating their constructions and understandings within the temporal and spatial location of childhood. Through challenging the perception that young people are too young to 'know' about violence or to offer opinions on it, Nancy Lombard demonstrates the ways to talk to younger people about men's violence. Through confronting preconceptions of younger people's existing knowledge, capabilities and understanding, she demonstrates that this is a subject which young people can confidently discuss.
'This is far and away the best book I've read about young people and VAW. Nancy Lombard brings the children she talked with to life, listening closely to what they say and think as she tracks the evolving interplay of their attitudes towards violence and abuse and the formation of gender identities. A must read for educators, social service professionals and anyone concerned with the transmission of gender-based violence across generations.' Evan Stark, Rutgers University, USA 'Bringing together feminist theory and childhood studies, this book is a unique and meticulous study of children and young people's perceptions of gender and domestic violence. An important message for teachers, parents and professionals in children's services is that young people's understandings are temporal and transitory so unhelpful beliefs condoning domestic violence are preventable and changeable.' Lorraine Radford, University of Central Lancashire, UK
