Article published In: Narrative Inquiry
Vol. 25:2 (2015) ► pp.242–263
‘Performing identity’
A narrative analysis of young people’s talk of intimate partner violence
Published online: 30 June 2016
https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.25.2.03mar
https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.25.2.03mar
This study examined the issue of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) from the perspective of young adults. The focus was on how participants actively imparted meaning to themselves and others, and how they constructed and performed their identities through the situated interaction of the research interview. Students at the University of Cape Town (ages 18–25), were invited to participate in unstructured individual interviews and/or focus groups about IPV and intimate relationships. A total of 24 young adults volunteered to participate. The results revealed that young people are knowledgeable and concerned about IPV. Participants underscored the importance, intensity and timing of intimate relationships in their lives- and signaled its significance and consequence for their current identity projects. Female participants had specific investments in how their talk achieved selfpresentation goals: they used their narratives as a resource to account for their experiences, negotiate and present their preferred identities, and manage their reputations.
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Rowlett, Benedict J. L.
Klausen, Rita K., Marie Karlsson, Svein Haugsgjerd & Geir Fagerjord Lorem
2017. Narrative performances of user involvement among service users in mental health care. Narrative Inquiry 27:1 ► pp. 149 ff.
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