Linda Arnell – författare

In recent decades, large-scale social changes have taken place in Europe. Ranging from neoliberal social policies to globalization and the growth of EU, these changes have significantly affected the conditions in which girls shape their lives. Living Like a Girl explores the relationship between changing social conditions and girls’ agency, with a particular focus on social services such as school programs and compulsory institutional care. The contributions in this collected volume seek to expand our understanding of contemporary European girlhood by demonstrating how social problems are managed in different cultural contexts, political and social systems.

This edited collection provides a detailed picture of children’s lives when living at domestic violence shelters (also termed refuges) which provide a safe space for victims. It draws on original empirical research from countries including the UK, USA, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Israel and Australia to examine how domestic violence shelters are managed and understood in various social systems. The key themes of the book are school and everyday life, agency and transitions, and support. Using a range of methods including ethnography, interviews, mental health surveys, this book draws on the voices of children, mothers, and workers and explores a range of issues affecting particularly marginalised groups (e.g. infants and teenagers). It includes recommendations for practice and speaks to those in law, social work, nursing and criminology.