WPR APPROACH: GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND RACIACL DISCRIMINATION IN U.S POLICY VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Author
Johnson Hincapie, Nohemy Yadira
Term
4. term
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-06-12
Pages
56
Abstract
This thesis examines how gender-based violence and racial discrimination are represented and addressed in U.S. policy through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and its subsequent reauthorizations. Framed by the United States’ accession to the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)—with significant reservations—the study asks why racial discrimination receives limited attention within efforts to combat gender-based violence. Using Carol Bacchi’s WPR (What’s the Problem Represented to be?) approach, the analysis interrogates how VAWA constructs the problem: the assumptions underpinning that construction, how it came about, what is left unproblematic, the effects produced, and how the representation has been disseminated, defended, and might be disrupted. An intersectionality lens is applied to illuminate how policy frames can overlook or marginalize the experiences of women of color, including differences across racial and ethnic groups. Drawing on statutory texts, policy documents, and existing scholarship, the thesis maps silences and biases in VAWA’s design and implementation and situates them against U.S. human rights commitments. While prior literature indicates persistent gaps for women of color, this excerpt does not present the study’s final findings; the thesis aims to surface these problem representations and identify where policy improvements could advance equity and protection for all survivors.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan kønsbaseret vold og racediskrimination er fremstillet og håndteret i den amerikanske politik Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) af 1994 og dens efterfølgende fornyelser. Med udgangspunkt i, at USA har tiltrådt FN’s konvention om afskaffelse af alle former for racediskrimination (ICERD) – men med betydelige forbehold – stiller specialet spørgsmålet, hvorfor racediskrimination får begrænset opmærksomhed i indsatsen mod kønsbaseret vold. Analysen anvender Carol Bacchis WPR-tilgang (What’s the Problem Represented to be?) til at undersøge, hvordan problemet konstrueres i VAWA: hvilke antagelser der ligger til grund, hvordan denne problemfremstilling er opstået, hvilke elementer der forbliver uproblematiskgjort, hvilke effekter den producerer, og hvordan den er blevet udbredt og forsvaret samt kan udfordres. Et intersektionelt perspektiv anvendes til at belyse, hvordan politiske rammer kan overse eller marginalisere erfaringer hos især kvinder af farve, herunder forskelle på tværs af race og etnicitet. Specialet bygger på lovtekster, politiske dokumenter og eksisterende forskning for at kortlægge tavsheder og bias i VAWA’s udformning og implementering og sætter disse i relation til USA’s menneskeretlige forpligtelser. De indledende kapitler signalerer, at tidligere forskning peger på vedvarende huller for kvinder af farve, men de endelige resultater præsenteres ikke i dette uddrag; specialets bidrag er at synliggøre problemrepræsentationer og pege på, hvor politiske forbedringer kan styrke lighed og beskyttelse for alle berørte.
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