Rethinking the ‘domus’ in domestic violence: homelessness, space and domestic violence in South Africa

Meth, P. (2003) Rethinking the ‘domus’ in domestic violence: homelessness, space and domestic violence in South Africa. Geoforum, 34(3), pp. 317-327. (doi: 10.1016/S0016-7185(03)00005-8)

Abstract

An examination of domestic violence and where it takes place provides significant insight into debates about the meaning of home. It is argued here that discussions of domestic violence could make more use of feminist geographers’ and development theorists’ analyses of the home. Examining the experiences of homeless and insecurely housed women in Durban, the paper aims to explore ideas of ‘home’ implicit in much research on domestic violence and argues that these ideas require further examination. The paper focuses on three assumptions about the home (in experiences of domestic violence); namely, the home as a formal material space, the home as private, and the domicile as home. In conclusion the paper argues for a more nuanced understanding of home.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Meth, Professor Paula
• Authors: Meth, P.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Geoforum
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0016-7185
• ISSN (Online): 1872-9398

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