Citation

Shelton SZ. J. Homosex. 2018; 65(10): 1275-1298.

Affiliation

Oregon State University , Corvallis , OR , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00918369.2017.1374060

PMID

28854144

Abstract

Since the foundations of the contemporary anti-violence movement in the 60s and 70s, advocates have sought to establish a critical understanding of domestic violence that we can use to direct our efforts for social change. Yet many advocates and advocacy organizations continue to rely on a problematic narrative of sameness that marginalizes and erases diverse victims' experiences and needs. In this article, I conduct a critical discourse analysis of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website to identify outcomes of this narrative for the inclusivity of advocacy efforts. I argue that despite the organization's numerous claims to represent diverse victims' experiences, website content reveals that its purportedly general account of domestic violence normalizes the experiences of a small group of victims - namely heterosexual, cisgender women. Further, the website's content greatly limits the potential for thinking about and discussing violence across difference. I conclude with recommendations for changes in advocacy practices.

Language: en

Keywords

Advocacy; LGBTQ; critical discourse analysis; domestic violence; gender essentialism; heteronormativity; national coalition against domestic violence; queer theory