The Othering of Domestic Violence: The EU and Cultural Framings of Violence Against Women

This article examines the effect of intersectionality on violence against women. The authors assert that a universal tendency to focus on the cultural nature of violence against women and downplay or ignore other contributing factors can marginalize certain groups through a process known as "othering". The authors explain that a proper acknowledgment of the unique needs and experiences of different women is essential to effective policy-making. This paper examines and critiques the ways in which the European Union has framed differences when creating policies dedicated to combatting gender- based violence. The paper is separated into four main sections. The first section examines theoretical perspectives on the importance of an intersectional analysis of violence against women. The second section explores the discourse and policies pertaining to violence against women from the European Union. The third section explores cultural framing of domestic violence policy with the European Parliament, European Commission and European Council. A summary and conclusion follow in section four.