Framing a Problem Down South: IPV Community Outreach in the Deep South

• In Event: Gendered Violence in the Media

Abstract

Since the inception of the domestic violence awareness movement in the 1980s, intimate partner violence (IPV) service organizations have prioritized community outreach as a key component of their services. However, IPV remains a significant challenge for agencies operating in the U.S. “Deep South” region (specifically Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina). This study examines how the agencies within this region conduct community outreach and education for local residents about IPV as a social phenomenon. To understand how IPV is framed for community members, the analysis draws on 2,949 public social media posts (primarily on Facebook and Twitter/X) as well as materials and field notes from 14 ethnographic observations at Domestic Violence Awareness Month events across the Deep South in 2023. Findings indicate that agencies in this region predominantly rely on a heteronormative, cisgender framing in their outreach materials, although some alternative forms of IPV are occasionally highlighted. Moreover, certain organizations incorporate religious messaging that may be off-putting to members of minority groups. Future outreach efforts should strive for greater inclusivity to better address the needs of diverse community members.

Author

• Brian Tesch, East Mississippi Community College