Special Interest Groups
One of the main aims of VAWGRN is connecting researchers, practitioners and people passionate about understanding and ending violence against women and girls. We recognise the value of connection and solidarity in supporting people to lead this work. Our members lead on special interest groups, which are collectives focused on specific aspects of violence against women and girls.
Members of the VAWGRN are invited to start a Special Interest Group (SIG) on any topic related to violence against women and girls (VAWG). Whether you want to build connections, share resources, or collaborate on research or practice, we can help you get started. To set up a SIG, just get in touch with the network team — we’ll provide guidance and promote your group through our channels.
Status: Active
The Media SIG has been set up by a group of academics in the field of violence against women. Our aim is to critically appraise the different ways that gendered violence is portrayed in the media and whether representation reinforces or challenges negative attitudes about women, sexual violence, and society. We will be hosting events, writing articles, and inviting people to take part in different ways. For queries or more information on the Media SIG group, please contact Amy Beddows.
We organized our first event: a panel discussion on Micheala Coel’s riveting drama ‘I May Destroy you’, discussing the importance of media in the research and perception of violence against women and girls. Please read an article written by our team.
Status: Active
We are exploring establishing a VAWGRN Creative Practice special interest group (SIG) and are inviting our network members who engage with creative practice or are interested in creative practice approaches and methods to get in touch with us. This will help get a sense of potential interest in the SIG and shape its development.
We are approaching the Creative Practice SIG as an opportunity to explore the diverse ways creative practice intersects with research and professional work addressing violence against women and girls. It aims to provide a space for academics and practitioners to share, reflect on and develop creative approaches to research, advocacy and engagement. It will take a broad view of creative practice, including but not limited to:
Practice-based research, where the creative artefact (e.g. performance, artwork, film) is the primary contribution to knowledge;
- Practice-led research, which aims to generate new understandings about creative processes or practices;
- The use of creative methods (e.g. storytelling, visual arts, performance) in data collection, analysis or dissemination;
- Ways of working that use creative practice to explore knowledge that is experiential, embodied or difficult to articulate through conventional means.
The SIG will aim to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, support ethical and innovative research practices and create opportunities for collaboration and peer learning. If you are interested, please email the network.
Status: Dormant
Online and technology-based gender-based violence is on the rise. The Council of Europe Expert Group on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence published, in 2021, their General Recommendation No.1 on the digital dimension of violence against women, and a growing body of evidence shows that there is a gendered element to online interactions, and that technology can facilitate the abuse of women and girls. The Technology-Based Violence research group is for anyone with an interest in research on any aspects of technology-based violence.
The Technology-Based Violence sub-group is planning a series of in-person and online seminars for spring and summer 2023 on The Online Safety Bill and Technology-Based Violence. Anyone interested in presenting should contact Aislinn O’Connell with a brief description of their suggested topic. Expressions of interest in hosting a seminar discussion are also warmly welcomed.