Developing the Feminist Research into Violence and Abuse (FRIVA) Network at the University of Leeds

Members of the School of Law are developing an interdisciplinary network for scholars of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Developing the Feminist Research Into Violence and Abuse (FRIVA) Network

Staff and doctoral students at the University of Leeds are developing an inclusive, interdisciplinary network of scholars, activists and practitioners working to address violence and abuse against women and marginalised groups. FRIVA is currently in an internal development phase, prior to our official launch later this year.

Why a feminist network?

The American scholar and activist, bell hooks, wrote that Feminism is for Everybody (2015). Her work focused on eradicating the gender norms and oppression that harm women, and men, and intersect with demographic characteristics including race and class to amplify disadvantage. FRIVA shares her vision of an inclusive, intersectional feminism that recognises systemic injustice and calls for collective action to improve the lives of women, girls and minority groups.

According to the United Nations (2024), an estimated 736 million women – or one in three – will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, mostly from current or former intimate partners. In 2023, approximately 51,100 women globally were killed by their partner or a family member. In England and Wales, in the year ending March 2024, an estimated 2.3 million people aged 16 and above experienced domestic abuse, most of whom were women. FRIVA is committed to eradicating violence against women and girls (VAWG) and marginalised groups.

What will FRIVA do?

Many FRIVA members conduct research around VAWG and safety for minorities. For example, the Centre for Global Security Challenges has a strand on Gender and Security, there are multiple projects on disability and domestic abuse / sexual violence (see hereherehere, and here), whilst the Shiloh project examines rape culture, religion and the Bible. An AHRC-funded network is exploring the relationship between creative writing and coercive control legislation. Studies of rurality and domestic abusewomen's safety in public parks and domestic abuse service providers and their stories provide further examples.  

FRIVA will facilitate new links between staff and PGRs across the university, and between FRIVA and Leeds University Union feminist student societies. We will connect with external VAWG-related research groups including at universities in Durham, Bristol, Liverpool, Middlesex, Hull and overseas (eg, Monash, Australia), and within the Vulnerabilities and Policing Futures ESRC Research Centre. Associate Membership will be available to practitioners and policymakers, organisations and external academics that share FRIVA’s values, as developed during the workshops (see below). FRIVA’s vibrant research environment will maximise opportunities for collaboration, impact, outreach, and activism.

Growing FRIVA and agreeing our purpose and principles

Interested staff and PGRs are invited to FRIVA Workshop 2. This will be on Wednesday 12 March, from 10.00-11.30am in Newlyn LG.02. We work in a sensitive area and FRIVA members may hold different views on important issues. At Workshop 2 we will formulate our collective principles, values and purpose. Sign up for Workshop 2 here.

Workshop 3: In Workshop 3, we will refine the format of the external engagement event and list of invitees.

External engagement event (65 people): Our engagement event (June 2025) will include focus group discussions of local and national research needs with key stakeholders, with live scribing (to appear on our website). The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (Alison Lowe OBE) and the Director of West Yorkshire’s Violence Reduction Partnership (DCS Lee Berry) have agreed to attend. This event will act as a ‘soft launch’ for local practitioners.  

Information gathered from practitioners and policymakers will inform FRIVA’s first manifesto. This will articulate our purpose, principles and priorities and act as a platform for future activities. The manifesto will appear on the FRIVA website. The launch of the website and manifesto will mark the official launch of FRIVA, accompanied by university-wide marketing activities.      

How to get involved

Sign up here to join the email distribution list and receive more information in the future. 

Register here for Workshop 2.