A feminist approach to dating violence prevention: Creating change towards safety, equality and mutuality

Abstract

The effectiveness of dating violence prevention programs in changing behaviors, attitudes and knowledge related to perpetration and victimization has been well documented in the literature. However, little attention has been paid to the question of how such positive outcomes have been obtained, and the debate continues as to their underlying theoretical rationale. The present study aimed to fill this gap by designing a dating violence prevention program from a feminist approach and to investigate the processes of change with a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Towards this goal, 56 Turkish college students completed the program and later participated in semi-structured individual interviews. The analysis showed that the program initiated a gradual move towards safety, equality and mutuality in dating and intimate relations through four processes: changing perspectives and norms, learning from peers, reflecting on self, and acting differently. Some of the processes were experienced differently depending on the nature of prior or current dating experiences and the strength of sexist beliefs. The present study argues that a feminist approach proves to be a useful framework for dating violence prevention efforts and concludes with recommendations for future preventive work.