Det osynliga våldet : Personliga assistenters förståelse av våld mot kvinnor med funktionsnedsättningar

Men’s violence against women is a specific social problem as it affects the personal security and the right to decide over one’s own body. Both of which are human rights. As a consequence of the violence, men and women are living under different conditions, which by the prevailing gender order enables the inequality of society. This is a democracy issue. Women with disabilities whom are exposed to violence in close relationships are thus twice vulnerable, because of the disabilities and because of their gender. Violence can also take other expressions and be directed at the disability. Violence in close relationships is often hidden from society and violence is often made invisible by being explained in other terms. Personal Assistants work close to women with disabilities in their homes and may meet women that are exposed to gender-based violence. This is a qualitative study with the purpose of examine Personal Assistants’ knowledge of gender-based violence against women with disabilities. The results show that they have little knowledge of violence and often no formal training. The results also show that they have no guidelines for how they are supposed to act if such violence occurs. Personal Assistants understanding of violence is mainly based on physical violence. The Personal Assistants’ response if gender-based violence occurs is conditional depending on where the abuse takes place. The results also show a distinction between the private and the public scene. Personal Assistants use the clients’ privacy as an excuse not to act if they face gender-based violence. Despite the uncertainty as to how they should act, as found in the study, this may be due to their low level of competence in the subject as well as non-existing guidelines. Keywords: Violence, women, gender, disability, Personal AssistantValiderat; 20110418 (anonymous