Asserting Gender through Narratives about Violence

Abstract

This chapter explores the second central theme of the Young People and Violence study, focusing specifically on the way in which young people make claims about gender through their narratives about violence. It is argued that views on violence are not only reflective of particular (and hegemonic) expectations of gender, but that assertions about normative gender behaviour and expectations are made in young people’s discourses of violence. The findings presented in this chapter represent a distinctive analysis of gender and violence, and indicate that gender should be prioritised as fundamental to educating young people about — and preventing — violence.