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ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Conclusions Female young prisoners may not be willing to discuss their familial and social issues through direct interviews. Therefore, other academic techniques, such as art‐based techniques, could be used in this context. We aimed to explore female prisoners' psychological, familial, and social issues through an art‐based approach.In this thematic qualitative study, we conducted a 2‐h painting training program for females (21–48 years) who were confined in women's shelters in the Kurdistan Region. To carry out this initiative, we collaborated with the administration of women's prisoners in Duhok, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah governorates in the Kurdistan Region.The paintings included in this study explored the social and familial issues faced by girls and women who were imprisoned for various reasons. The paintings of the participants were categorized under the following three main headings: familial issues, social pressure, and women's rights. The artwork expresses that these girls and women suffer from a wide range of familial and social issues. They share that they lack the rights, as men do, to discuss their opinions and feelings within their societies and families. Additionally, these women experience pressure from their families and society for various reasons, as mentioned hereafter.This study revealed that the lack of meeting females' rights and their inability to practice their wishes and rights could be the main reason for the familial and social issues in Kurdish society. The findings suggest that the restrictions and limitations placed on women's agency and autonomy contribute significantly to the challenges and hardships faced by women within their families and communities. Addressing these issues and promoting gender equality may be essential in fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society in the Kurdistan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology (CTJPP) / Kıbrıs Türk Psikiyatri ve Psikoloji Dergisi is the property of Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology (CTJPP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The AHURI Final Report delves into strategies for incentivizing small-scale investors to offer affordable private rental housing. It examines the motivations and obstacles faced by these investors, the impact of regulations and taxes on their decisions, and policy options to encourage their involvement. The report highlights headleasing as a method to increase affordable housing stock and stresses the importance of positive cash flow, make-good provisions, and effective communication to attract small-scale investors. Survey results indicate that investors are more likely to participate in affordable rental housing schemes that offer rental guarantees and make-good provisions, with a significant portion willing to engage in schemes similar to NRAS or headleasing. The report also analyzes the distribution of rental properties owned by small-scale investors in Australia, focusing on factors such as the number of properties owned, age of property owners, and income levels. Additionally, the text includes a range of research reports and articles exploring various aspects of housing and housing assistance in Australia, Britain, and Flanders, offering valuable insights into housing markets and policies in different regions. [Extracted from the article]

The essay discusses the Women in Revolt! Art and Activism exhibition at Tate Britain, showcasing feminist artworks from the UK between 1970-1990. The exhibition aims to address the historical absence of women's art and their experiences of legal subjectivity in museum spaces. It explores themes of law, art, and feminism through over 100 women artists, highlighting social, economic, and political changes affecting women during that period. While the exhibition received critical acclaim for its impact and timeliness, some critics raised concerns about inclusivity, representation of trans and Black women, and the international scope of the exhibition. The aftermath of attending such exhibitions is emphasized, encouraging viewers to reflect, take action, and seek support on issues raised. [Extracted from the article]

This exploratory study examined the impact of physical activity education on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the physical performance of women experiencing homelessness. Twenty-seven women experiencing homelessness and residing in two women's shelters participated in a four-week physical activity education program. The program consisted of education in physical activity and exercise, activity tracking with wrist fitness trackers, and weekly reflections on personal goals. During the last session, focus group discussions on future program structure and content were held. The women participating in the physical activity educational program saw no statistically significant difference in physically unhealthy days during the program as compared to the preceding month. Participants reported a significant decrease in the number of mentally unhealthy days following the intervention (Healthy Days Core Module (HDCM3) [r (26) = 0.57, p = 0.03]). The results of this pilot study suggest a positive connection between physical education programs and HRQoL for women experiencing homelessness. The focus group discussion provided insight into program strengths, challenges, and future opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In The Voyage Out, the sea is both deeply implicated in the imperial discourse and is served as an imaginative space for women to escape patriarchal oppression. Although these two representations seem contradictory, they actually imply a deeper causal relationship. For colonists like Mr. Dalloway, the sea is not only a trade route connecting the empire to the invisible colonies in South America but also a crucial arena for geopolitical power struggles. The sea is closely related to British national identity and serves as a site of resources and curiosity. Different from those colonists, the novel's protagonist Rachel's depoliticized gaze upon and imagination of the sea deconstructs the natural link constructed between the sea and the colonial discourse and restores the natural attributes of the sea. Through the emplotment of Rachel's death, Woolf not only critiques the violence, exploitation, and aggression inherent in the imperial sea discourse but also reveals the homology between imperial and patriarchal ideologies. Through her feminist stance, Woolf deconstructs the imperial sea myth, and constructs the sea as an imaginative space for women to escape patriarchal oppression. However, the utopian nature of this imagined space also reflects the plight of women within an imperial patriarchal society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older single women in Australia are increasingly experiencing homelessness. Age and gender seem inherently related to single older women's housing crises, but no attempt has been made to account for the causes of their homelessness through an intersectional lens. This article develops a complex and contingent causal explanation of the structures and mechanisms implicated in growing homelessness for this group. We demonstrate an original use of critical realist-informed intersectional analysis which is characterized by stratified social ontology and emergence. We theoretically reframe existing literature to demonstrate how the intersectional causal powers of gender and age ('gender*age') discrimination and conventional life course experiences intersect to generate financial precarity for older women. Our causal model explains how economic insecurity, structural and individual contexts, and crisis events interact, challenging older women's housing security and precipitating first-time homelessness later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma-informed care (TIC) benefits to service users and providers are increasingly acknowledged across various health and social care settings. TIC can potentially increase service user engagement, prolong shelter placements, and lessen staff vicarious trauma and burnout. However, studies documenting staff experiences and/or the implementation of TIC are scarce. This limitation has prompted calls for more grounded and applied research into trauma-informed practice, tracking implementation in practice, staff perceptions, barriers, and organisational change. This study aims to address this gap and is an ecological, mixed-methods evaluation of the efficacy of TIC training in a female-only homeless shelter. Quantitative data included 132 incident reports during the first yearly quarters pre- and post-training, hypothesising post-training reductions in incident numbers and severity. Using expansive thematic analysis, semi-structured interviews with six shelter staff (n = 6) explored employee views of TIC relative to trauma understanding, incident management, and integration in practice. Findings revealed a marginal increase in incident numbers and a statistically significant reduction in incident severity post-TIC with a 50% reduction in calls to emergency medical services (EMS). Participant accounts of working practice pre- and post-TIC uncovered increased trauma understanding, increased confidence and competence, healing relationships, and enhanced self-care. Findings are discussed with reference to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s (2014) trauma-informed framework and Yatchmenoff et al’s. (2017) core questions in evaluating TIC. While these results are significant as one of the first evaluations of TIC training in Ireland, limitations and implications for future research and practice are considered.

AbstractViolence against women (VAW) or domestic violence (DV) is a serious violation of human rights and is a major global health issue. Nearly 1 in 3 women globally have been subjected to physical and sexual violence by an intimate partner. VAW is a considerable issue in Turkey, as evidenced by one study showing that 43.4% of Turkish women surveyed had experienced at least one type of violence in their lifetime. Healthcare professionals and other practitioners are often the first point of contact for VAW survivors and can play an essential role in the recognition and intervention process. This descriptive, cross-sectional study examines the perspectives of women shelter staff on survivors of VAW in Turkey, considering how demographic factors influence these staff members’ views of VAW survivors. Seventy-nine women completed the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (AWS) revealing a significant association between the education levels of the participants and their AWS score. In addition, married women held more stigmatizing attitudes toward VAW survivors than single women. This study can serve as a valuable for researchers, professionals, and policymakers to learn and understand how culture and family values influence gender-based biases and tolerance levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black Feminist theorist bell hooks has written of the way in which Black women construct 'homeplaces' as 'spaces of care and nurturance in the face of the brutal harsh reality of racist oppression.' But what happens when the home is not a place of safety for Black women? Beginning in the late 1970s, groups of Black women in Britain began to establish women's refuges designed to meet the needs of Black and Asian women who were experiencing domestic abuse. In so doing, they were providing an alternative homeplace where women could be safe, not only from abusive partners, but also from racism they sometimes experienced in mainstream women's refuges. This paper argues that specialist refuges were important spaces where Black women could heal from abuse, foster community, and find their political voices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Photovoice research is situated within a larger study and part of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership, Project Lotus, Hope Together. Project Lotus is a collaboration that began in early 2021 with a network of women's shelters, women with lived experience of homelessness, and academic scholars in Montreal, Quebec, working towards a broad goal of co-creating supports for women post-shelter stay. Underpinned by a critical feminist lens, the aim of this research was to uncover what helps and what hinders women in their transition from shelter to housing. Using Photovoice as the participatory research method, seven women in Montreal with lived experience of a shelter stay and post-shelter transition to their own housing were interviewed over a 6-month period in 2021. Five key and interrelated themes emerged as central to their experience and process in their transition from shelter to home: 1) Shelter as a safety net; 2) Living with trauma; 3) Moving beyond survival to find meaning in everyday life; 4) Connecting and contributing; and 5) A home. Our findings demonstrated that, while moving into their own living space post-shelter marked a new beginning for the women, it was a beginning filled with various systemic and structural barriers. Our findings also suggest and align with recent literature reviews that there are broad systemic inequalities for women related to housing, gender roles, and poverty. Sustainable wrap-around supports and policy changes using rights-based, systems, and trauma-informed approaches to support women post-shelter are urgently required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma-informed care (TIC) benefits to service users and providers are increasingly acknowledged across various health and social care settings. TIC can potentially increase service user engagement, prolong shelter placements, and lessen staff vicarious trauma and burnout. However, studies documenting staff experiences and/or the implementation of TIC are scarce. This limitation has prompted calls for more grounded and applied research into trauma-informed practice, tracking implementation in practice, staff perceptions, barriers, and organisational change. This study aims to address this gap and is an ecological, mixed-methods evaluation of the efficacy of TIC training in a female-only homeless shelter. Quantitative data included 132 incident reports during the first yearly quarters pre- and post-training, hypothesising post-training reductions in incident numbers and severity. Using expansive thematic analysis, semi-structured interviews with six shelter staff (n = 6) explored employee views of TIC relative to trauma understanding, incident management, and integration in practice. Findings revealed a marginal increase in incident numbers and a statistically significant reduction in incident severity post-TIC with a 50% reduction in calls to emergency medical services (EMS). Participant accounts of working practice pre- and post-TIC uncovered increased trauma understanding, increased confidence and competence, healing relationships, and enhanced selfcare. Findings are discussed with reference to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s (2014) traumainformed framework and Yatchmenoff et al's. (2017) core questions in evaluating TIC. While these results are significant as one of the first evaluations of TIC training in Ireland, limitations and implications for future research and practice are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing presence of African women (especially Moroccans) in the support services for survivors of gender-based violence in Catalonia (Spain) highlights how the perception of difference in contexts of significant cultural diversity can fuel othering processes based on racialized assumptions, which may ultimately lead these women to experience situations of additional vulnerability. Through the results of an anthropological study based on African (mainly Moroccan) women, we show how their racialized "otherness" is a cultural construct resulting from a combination of five main variables: gender, ethnicity, nationality, phenotype and religion. One of the most critical consequences of activating this reductionist mechanism is the creation of additional vulnerability for other women in the same situation. We then analyze how these women mobilize cultural, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic markers, with results that ultimately impede the formation of sisterhood and mutual support relationships, thus increasing their sense of being neglected and their vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"American Community: Radical Experiments in Intentional Living" by Mark S. Ferrara delves into the forgotten history of radical settler communities in America, showcasing stories of communal living and resource sharing from the 1620s to the 1980s. The book highlights the successes and challenges faced by these groups, emphasizing their resistance to dominant colonial and capitalist ideas. Ferrara's research provides insights into alternative forms of organization, energy use, and community building, offering a nuanced perspective on the quest for a more equitable and thriving American society. [Extracted from the article]

This pilot study qualitatively examined the benefits of engaging women experiencing homelessness in group-based improv activities as a means of enhancing health and wellness outcomes in this marginalized population. Seven women experiencing homelessness residing in a women's shelter and who participated in a professionally-facilitated improv workshop were engaged through in-depth qualitative interviews about their experiences. The workshop and data collection occurred in October 2021. Participants indicated that improv boosted their self-esteem and deepened social connections with others at the shelter. Participants were enthusiastic about accessing further improv opportunities, noting that improv should be embedded into other prevention and intervention approaches, particularly groups that are mandatory or that focus on stigmatized topics. Inclusion of improv activities in intervention and prevention efforts would benefit from additional exploration as ways by which services might be innovated and tailored to the specific health and wellness needs of women experiencing homelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saskatchewan, Canada, has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in Canada, with statistics double the national average. The government of Saskatchewan does not substantively fund second-stage housing - a key mitigating solution to GBV. Nor does the province have a related action plan to reduce this violence and enhance the safety of women, gender non-conforming people, and children who are disproportionally targeted by GBV. This article demonstrates the outcomes of a knowledge synthesis on the intersection of GBV and second-stage housing across Canada. This research used an intersectional feminist approach to guide a literature review and NVivo analysis. This article's results section demonstrates the importance of second-stage housing as it relates to the mitigation of GBV. The discussion section offers various recommendations collected across Canada that can be used in Saskatchewan to bolster the existing non-profit sector that supports victims and survivors of GBV through enhanced public funding and related supports from the provincial and federal governments. The article concludes by identifying three viable and urgent areas for future research: first, investigate the potential correlation between GBV rates and second-stage housing to examine whether support for second-stage funding impacts GBV rates. Second, identify and develop alternative assessment and evaluation metrics that shift quantitative reporting standards to qualitative understandings of success. Third, examine the interconnection between settler colonization and GBV that disproportionality targets Indigenous women through strengths-based, decolonial, Indigenous-led frameworks that are culturally appropriate and responsive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia's first women's refuge was established in 1974, marking a crucial outgrowth of women's liberation activism that placed domestic violence on the public agenda. To maintain refuges, feminists seized opportunities presented by the progressive Gough Whitlam Labor government. This convergence between a reforming government and the women's movement meant that Australian feminist refuges were among the first in the world to receive state support, in 1975. Maintaining this support required feminist activists to engage with the Australian state. They framed their claims in two ways: they foregrounded women's traumatic narratives of experiences of domestic violence, and they asserted that refuges were a distinctive feminist service. Adapting to a constantly changing political context, however, advocates found it difficult to distinguish their activities from charitable refuges. Their emphasis on women's trauma foregrounded a victimized political subject while the movement's emphasis on fostering "self-help" was co-opted by advocates of neoliberal governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Coulee City Community Ethnography: A Love Letter to Participant Living" by Madeline P. Davis is a firsthand account of the author's ethnographic research in Coulee City, Washington. The author chose this town for its unique blend of agriculture and the nearby Grand Coulee Dam. Through participant living, interviews, archival research, and photography, the author collected data to understand the cultural dynamics of this rural community and the perceived divide between urban and rural areas in American society. The article also explores the significance of history and Christianity in Coulee City, highlighting the close-knit communities within the town's four churches. The author concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing and respecting the diverse cultural identities that contribute to the fabric of America. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Guidelines and regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly impacted the health care sector. We explore these impacts in the gender-based violence (GBV) services sector and, more specifically, in the context of women’s shelters. Methods Using an interpretive description and integrated knowledge mobilization approach, we interviewed 8 women’s shelter clients, 26 staff, and conducted focus groups with 24 Executive Directors. Results We found that pandemic responses challenged longstanding values that guide work in women’s shelters, specifically feminist and anti-oppressive practices. Physical distancing, masking, and closure of communal spaces intended to slow or stop the spread of the novel coronavirus created barriers to the provision of care, made it difficult to maintain or create positive connections with and among women and children, and re-traumatized some women and children. Despite these challenges, staff and leaders were creative in their attempts to provide quality care, though these efforts, including workarounds, were not without their own challenges. Conclusions This research highlights the need to tailor crisis response to sector-specific realities that support service values and standards of care.

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we use and view space across all sectors, including those servicing survivors of violence against women (VAW). The increase in prevalence and severity of VAW during this pandemic impacted an emergency residential shelter system that, in many jurisdictions, was chronically underfunded; the compounding effects of COVID-19 restrictions, such as bed capacity reductions and physical distancing requirements, significantly influenced how shelter space could be applied to support women and children experiencing violence. Using interpretive description methodology, 26 interviews were conducted with shelter staff, eight with women accessing shelter services, and five focus groups with 24 organizational leaders of VAW services in Ontario, Canada to understand the use of shelter spaces during the pandemic. Two main themes were identified in the data and explored: (1) are spaces working?; and (2) to change or not change a facility's architectural configuration? Implications and recommendations for VAW shelter space design are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic and family violence experienced by women and children is a significant social issue. Children and young people’s exposure to domestic and family violence is a recognised form of child abuse and neglect nationally and internationally reflected in child protection legislations and practice guidelines. There is an increasing imperative to ensure effective responses are provided to children and young people, however there are significant service gaps that warrant urgent attention. In this article it is argued that the way forward to responding to the increasing numbers of children and young people who experience domestic and family violence is to build capacity in the existing structure and expertise in women’s shelters. IMPLICATIONS Building capacity in existing structures and expertise within women’s shelters can help workers respond to the needs of children and young people. Implementing a child-centred and child-informed practice approach within shelters and employing specialists can ensure that children and young people will be safely and effectively supported. Building capacity in existing structures and expertise within women’s shelters can help workers respond to the needs of children and young people.Implementing a child-centred and child-informed practice approach within shelters and employing specialists can ensure that children and young people will be safely and effectively supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Child sexual abuse is a risk for children living in a happy family environment, as well as for children under state protection who have problems in achieving family unity. Methods: The study was conducted with 17 children between 3-7 years of age staying at women's shelters with their mothers and aimed to improve their sexual abuse recognition and self-protection skills. 7 children identified as experimental group were provided with the Body Safety Training program and the effect of the training was evaluated with the "What If" Situation Test. The test results in the experimental group were compared with 10 children in the control group and the test was repeated three weeks later in order to determine the persistance of the training. Results: The data obtained were evaluated by non-parametric analysis and Kruskal Wallis, Wilcoxon-signed Rank Test were used in addition to Mann Whitney U tests to determine the difference between the groups. As a result of the research, "What If" Situation Test sub-dimension mean scores showed an increase in favor of the post-test in the experimental group, but no significant increase was observed in the control group. Conclusions: This difference observed in the experimental group shows that the Body Safety Training program is an effective program to increase self-protection skills for preventing sexual abuse in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jane Freeland's book "Feminist Transformation and Domestic Violence in Divided Berlin 1968–2002" explores the evolution of feminism in Germany, including the German Democratic Republic and Federal Republic, up to the reunification in 1989. The study focuses on grassroots efforts to address domestic violence, highlighting the intersectionality of race and gender, and the challenges faced by women in shelters. The book also delves into the debates and activism surrounding domestic violence under state socialism in East Germany, showcasing the complexities of feminist movements in both East and West Germany. Freeland's work contributes to historical debates on feminism, offering a broad definition of the movement and emphasizing the importance of understanding the different political regimes that shaped feminist activism in Germany. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Homeless women have complex life conditions and are often exposed to violence, sexual exploitation, rape, prostitution, reproductive disorders, survival sex trading, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim was to explore the existence of sexual aggression and vulnerability to STIs among homeless Brazilian women. Methods: Fifteen interviews were conducted with homeless women who were admitted to a women's shelter in a large city in Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, audiorecorded and complemented with notes of the researcher in field diary, subjected to inductive thematic analysis and analyzed in light of the social relations of gender. Results: Two themes were constructed: "Being a woman on the streets: a look at gender inequalities" and "Pain and the raped body: the scars of homeless women". The transgression of women's rights was observed with reports of sexual abuse interspersed with physical violence. Unprotected sexual practices were part of the daily lives of these women, with repercussions for their exposure to sexually transmitted infections. Dependence on psychoactive substances was mentioned, and transactional sex was used as a source of income to maintain such dependence, as well as to promote the women's livelihood. Conclusion: Homeless women experience complex situations on the streets involving exposure to different types of violence, the use of transactional sex as a survival strategy and unprotected sexual practices. Furthermore, the way in which women have been exposed to sexual assault and their coping mechanisms to those require attention. Interventions are need to improve the healthcare assistance of homeless women victims of sexual assault, considering the vulnerability of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence against women is a global problem. The current mixed-method study examined the relationship of battered women with primary care physicians (PCPs) and their thoughts on primary health care. In-depth interviews were conducted with 55 participants, using a semi-structured interview approach between April 1 and May 31, 2019, in women's shelters managed by municipalities in Ankara, Turkey. The study results showed that only 11% of the participants told their PCPs that they were exposed to violence. The most common reasons for not sharing this information were shame, lack of communication, concerns about confidentiality, and the thought that the subject was beyond the scope of the PCP. PCPs have a front-line role in recognizing domestic violence and triggering support systems for battered women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the concept of reproductive justice in Aotearoa (New Zealand), emphasizing its origins in addressing the limitations of the reproductive rights movement. It highlights the impact of colonization on the sexual and reproductive health of Indigenous and diasporic people. It discusses the importance of equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception and abortion.

Background: Guidelines and regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly impacted the health care sector. We explore these impacts in the gender-based violence (GBV) services sector and, more specifically, in the context of women's shelters. Methods: Using an interpretive description and integrated knowledge mobilization approach, we interviewed 8 women's shelter clients, 26 staff, and conducted focus groups with 24 Executive Directors. Results: We found that pandemic responses challenged longstanding values that guide work in women's shelters, specifically feminist and anti-oppressive practices. Physical distancing, masking, and closure of communal spaces intended to slow or stop the spread of the novel coronavirus created barriers to the provision of care, made it difficult to maintain or create positive connections with and among women and children, and re-traumatized some women and children. Despite these challenges, staff and leaders were creative in their attempts to provide quality care, though these efforts, including workarounds, were not without their own challenges. Conclusions: This research highlights the need to tailor crisis response to sector-specific realities that support service values and standards of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Projekt-Management Aktuell is the property of Narr Francke Attempto Verlag GmbH & Co.KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)