ABSTRACT
The media often makes sense of violence in terms of 'randomness' and 'evil'. But the reality, as the contributors to The Meanings of Violence demonstrate, is far more complex. Drawing on the diverse subject matter of the ESRC's Violence Research Programme - from interviews with killers to discussions with children in residential facilities - this volume locates the meaning of violence within social contexts, identities and social divisions. It aims to break open our way of speaking about violence and demonstrate the value in exploring the multiple, contradictory and complex meanings of violence in society. The wide range of topics include:
*Prostitute and client violence *Violence amongst young people at school and on the streets *Violence in bars and nightclubs *Violence in prison *Racist and homophobic violence
This book will be fascinating reading for students of criminology and academics working in the field of violent crime.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part |2 pages
Part I Conceptualising the meanings of violence
chapter 2|17 pages
‘Jump on top, get the job done’: strategies employed by female prostitutes to reduce the risk of client violence GRAHAM H A RT AND MARINA BARNARD
chapter 3|20 pages
Violence against children
part |2 pages
Part II Violence, meaning and social identities
chapter 4|19 pages
‘Taking it to heart’: girls and the meanings of violence MICHELE BURMAN , JANE B R OW N AND SUSAN B AT CHELOR
chapter 5|22 pages
‘Hi, I’m Ramon and I run this place’: challenging the normalisation of violence in children’s homes from young people’s perspectives EMMA RENOLD AND CHRISTINE B A RT E R
part |2 pages
Part III Violence, meaning and social contexts
chapter 9|19 pages
Bouncers and the social context of violence: masculinity, class and violence in the night-time economy SIMON WINL OW, DICK HOBBS , STUA RT LISTER AND
chapter 10|19 pages
Violence in a changing political context: Northern Ireland
part |2 pages
PART IV Violence, meaning and institutional contexts