ISSUES
: Domestic Violence
Assignments
42
Assignments
Brainstorming
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In small groups, discusswhat you knowabout domestic
violence. Consider the following:
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What does the term ‘domestic violence’ mean?
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Does domestic violence encompass more than
just physical violence?
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Who are the perpetrators of domestic violence?
Research
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Research forced marriage in the UK. Write some notes
about the key issues surrounding this topic and share
with your class.
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Do some research and find out about male victims
of domestic violence. Make notes on some of the
statistics you discover and feedback to your class.
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Research Clare’s Law and make notes about what the
law entails and why it was given its name.
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Look at the
Domestic violence legislation in England
and Wales: timeline
on page 27. Do some research
into domestic violence-based law in the UK and create
your own timeline, adding to the points that are already
there. Choose how you display your information, e.g.
on a poster.
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Create a questionnaire to find out how many people in
your class are aware that domestic abuse can happen
after a relationship has ended. Use your findings to
draw a graph that illustrates the results.
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Find out about rehabilitation programmes for domestic
violence perpetrators. What do these entail? Do they
work? Write 500 words exploring your findings.
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Where does the phrase
Cathy Come Home
originate
from? Do some research and feedback to your class.
Design
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Choose one of the articles in this book and create an
illustration to highlight the key themes/messages of
your chosen piece.
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Read the article
Myths vs facts
on page 4. In small
groups, think about how you could raise public
awareness of these myths and design a campaign
basedonyour ideas. For example, youcouldstoryboard
a television advert, plan a social media campaign or
design a series of posters and banners that could be
displayed in public spaces.
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Design a leaflet that could be displayed at your local
vets, which offers advice for people who have pets and
are concerned about what might happen to them if
they were to leave their abusive partner.
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Imagine you have been asked to design a leaflet that
will be made available in your local GP’s surgery. The
leaflet should explain the key facts about domestic
and relationship abuse, as well as busting some of the
myths surrounding it. Include a list of resources people
can go to for information and support.
Oral
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With a partner, create a five-minute PowerPoint
presentation that explores the issue of domestic
violence in teenage relationships. You should include a
section about resources such as websites and charities
that young people can consult if they are experiencing
these issues.
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Your friend tells you that their boyfriend/girlfriend is
being emotionally abusive. Role play a situation in
which you ask about this behaviour and give advice.
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As a class, discuss why you think male victims of
domestic violence are less likely to come forward and
discuss their abuse.
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New laws mean that people who share explicit pictures
or videos of former partners can be prosecuted. In
small groups, discuss your feelings about this law and
what kind of sentence you think would be appropriate
under these circumstances. Share the key points of
your discussion with the rest of your class.
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Do you think there should be refuges available for male
victims of domestic violence? Discuss with your class.
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In pairs, discuss why victims choose to stay with
abusive partners.
Reading/writing
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Write a one-paragraph definition of domestic violence.
Share your definition with a partner and discuss the
differences and similarities between your ideas.
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Read
What is gaslighting?
on page 6 and write a short-
story that illustrates this issue.
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Write a diary entry from the point of view of a parent
who is suffering domestic violence at the hands of their
child. Your entry should be at least 500 words long.
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Write a letter to your local MP explaining why you
believe the Government should ensure that domestic
violence refuges are not closed.
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Watch the film
Sleeping with the Enemy
, starring Julia
Roberts. Write a review, focusing on the film’s theme of
domestic violence.
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Imagine that youwrite an Agony Aunt/Uncle column in a
popular women’s magazine. A reader has written to you
explaining that she thinks she might be experiencing
domestic abuse from her partner. The abuse is not
physical but emotional. Write a reply, advising her on
what steps she can take to leave the abusive situation.
