Narratives of Childhood Domestic Violence

Tanya Frances is a lecturer in psychology and counselling at The Open University, UK. She is also a counsellor and psychotherapist in practice. Her research interests and expertise centre around trauma, social inequalities, gender-based violence and domestic violence and abuse. She is a founding member of the Intersectional Violences Research Group, an international group of academics interested in addressing issues around gender-based violence from a feminist psychological perspective.

‘This well written book, based on careful and thoughtful research, extends the current literature on how we think about the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people, and the longer term implications of this across the lifecourse. The book goes beyond the victim/survivor binary, to explore how young women have made sense of their childhood experiences, and how their identities have been shaped and reshaped by these experiences. The book is a compelling read. I strongly recommend anyone interested in children and young people’s experiences of domestic abuse to read this book – which should be everyone.’Dr John Devaney, Professor of Social Work, University of Edinburgh, UK‘This book is a courageous trailblazer for gender specific understandings of childhood domestic abuse, focusing on girls’ experiences which are often overlooked and silent(ced). Actively leaning into the complexities and tensions of young women's perspectives and rooted in epistemic justice, Dr Frances explores girls’ inner worlds. The use of poetry to examine the narratives is enchanting. Written with sensitivity, respect, and reflexivity, Dr Frances holds the narratives like butterflies in her hands. A beautifully written book which offers a beacon of hope for girls to step out of the shadows; they deserve to be heard.’Dr Jade Levell, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Gender Violence, University of Bristol, UK‘This is a compelling book that critically considers human violence. Tanya Frances has developed a richly narrated critique of domestic violence theory and conveys the power of redressing epistemic injustices where people's lived experiences fall into knowledge gaps. Her research with people who have experienced violence and focus upon its effects is rigorous and holds central, the contributors’ experiences. There is precision and power in the presentation of this important textbook and I highly recommend it for people wanting to understand more about domestic abuse or those working within the counselling and mental health professions.’Lynne Gabriel, OBE, PhD, Professor of Counselling and Mental Health, York St John University, UK

• 1. The beginning 2. Domestic violence in children’s lives 3. A feminist psychological perspective on memory, gender and voice/s 4. Interviewing women and working with poems 5. Transitions 6. Recoveries 7. Precarious work and creative assemblages of voice/s 8. Toward epistemic justice: embodied and reflexive listening 9. Staying with and looking ahead