Gender-based violence: theories and practices to promote healing and justice

Undergraduate / Graduate

In this class, we will explore liberatory approaches to gender-based violence. Throughout this class we will ask: How can we as social workers understand and interrupt gender-based violence? How can we promote healing and justice with and for survivors? In this course we will examine definitions of gender-based violence and analyze the relationship between gender, violence, and power using a range of feminist theories. We will critically evaluate interventions into gender-based violence, with a focus on social work's role in offering both care and control to survivors of violence. Together we will explore a range of approaches to survivor safety, accountability, healing, and justice, and we will identify "hope models" which can guide social work practice, policy, and research towards liberatory futures. Throughout the class, we will engage in critical self-reflection, integrate course materials with embodied and practice-based knowledge, and practice self- and collective-care strategies.