Varför stannar en kvinna hos en man som slår?
Forskning kring mäns våld mot kvinnor i nära relationer
This study has a qualitative approach and deals with difficult issues that arise in connection to male violence against women in close relations. The purpose of this study is to bring clarity to why women stay in violent relationships. I have been studying two leading theories, one called the Normalization Process of Violence represented by Eva Lundgren (sociology and theology). The other leading theory is the Neutralization of Violence represented by Margareta Hydén (fil dr and leg psycho therapeut).I have also studied the fight between these two theories for the leading position in the research on male violence against women. Eva Lundgren presents her theory through a structural perspective. She believes that power relationships between women and men depend on the overall power structures in society. Margareta Hydén presents her theory in a social psychological explanation model. She criticizes Lundgrens structural perspective and states that power can not be transferred to any structure or any kind of power centre. The power relationships will grow in the interaction between man and woman. In my study Lundgrens theory turned out to have the best explanatory power.