ABSTRACT

It is important to begin by discussing some issues that must be understood in order to situate where research on vulnerable populations fits within the family violence field. The type(s) of violence being studied, the context within which questions about violence are asked, and the type of sample employed, each has implications for understanding research on intimate partner violence (IPV). Having touched on these issues, this chapter briefly discusses general theoretical approaches relevant to the study of vulnerable populations. More attention is given to an intersectionality approach because of its focus on oppressed groups that are vulnerable to violence. This culminates in a discussion of how the study of violence against women in vulnerable populations in this book differs from typical applications of intersectionality.