Feminist Research Into Violence and Abuse

What is FRIVA?

The Feminist Research Into Violence & Abuse (FRIVA) network brings together researchers from across the University of Leeds, with expertise on violence against women, girls and marginalised others. We aim to accelerate and deepen links between FRIVA members and civil society to promote social justice. FRIVA provides a single point of contact to access to members of the network via our Membership Directory. This network will facilitate greater connections between FRIVA members and practitioners, policymakers, experts by experience, and activists to stimulate collaboration, support local and national initiatives and maximise the real-world impact of our work.

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 other protected 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 marginalised 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?

FRIVA comprises members from across the University’s schools and faculties, who conduct inter-disciplinary research around VAWG and safety for marginalised groups. 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 here, here, here, and here), whilst the Shiloh project examines rape culture, religion and the Bible. Fabulous Femininities is an AHRC-funded exploration of performative fabulousness and femininity by burlesque club-goers, that has developed a grassroots framework for safer spaces. An AHRC-funded network is exploring the relationship between creative writing and coercive control legislation. Studies of rurality and domestic abuse, women's safety in public parks and domestic abuse service providers and their stories provide further examples. Additionally, the ESRC-funded Vulnerabilities and Policing Futures Research Centre, led by the universities of Leeds and York, has a strand focused on domestic abuse.

FRIVA aims to accelerate and deepen relations between academic experts and local and national stakeholders to improve the lives of women, girls and marginalised others. Associate Membership will be available to practitioners and policymakers, organisations and external academics that share FRIVA’s values. FRIVA’s vibrant research environment will maximise opportunities for collaboration, impact, outreach, and activism.

Are the FRIVA colours significant?

Yes! From colours and clothing to images and slogans, symbolism has long been central to feminist activism. FRIVA is continuing this tradition. Our marketing combines the colours of the flag of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), the suffragette organisation founded by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903, with those of the contemporary genderqueer flag. Feminism is a broad church, and FRIVA is not tied to any one strand.

Additionally, contemporary debates about contentious issues, including (but not limited to) on sex, gender, and transwomen’s inclusion in (or exclusion from) women’s spaces, will not be resolved by ‘either / or thinking’ (Smith and Lewis 2022). The FRIVA colours reflect our principled commitment to holding oppositional ideas in tension and working together to forge creative solutions.