Action Research 2 - Work In Progress
“Can design improve the attitudes and beliefs surrounding male victims in partner violence?�
Marc Thompson S2890377
Identify A Need:
The need for this research topic is the need for more research and understanding of male victims in intimate partner relationships and to raise more awareness around it. This is something that happens every day, but you rarely hear about, you only ever hear about female victims on the news and the internet. The male victim is stuck in a very volatile situation and an issue that happens behind closed doors which even family and friends may be unaware of. Adding to this is the secrecy and shame attached to this for the male victims with notions of bravery in manhood. I want to dig deeper into the situation men face and to create awareness, support for them and show that there is help out there.
Target Audience/Methodolgy:
Through my research I intend to find ways to design an outcome to overcome barriers, limitations and design strategies to connect with society. Since action research 1 and more research I have discovered I need to focus on the target audience of males between 16-26. I want to hone in on this target audience as these males may be victims of partner violence, getting into relationships with a partner soon or need the awareness about intimate partner violence.
Contemporary Exemplars
Fig. 2: Sam Pattison, Stepping out from the shadows:
Fig. 1: Saint Hoax, When did he stop treating you like a princess?.
Fig. 3: British Women’s Aid, Act Until Women And Children Are Safe: ‘What Does It Take To Get People Talking About Domestic Abuse?
Fig. 4: Kate Spade, No More: ‘Listen: 60’. QR Code To Play Video
Practitioners
Societal expectations of male dominance and the potentially greater stigma faced by male victims will likely make it more difficult to identify and treat targeted males and aggressive females. Accordingly, victimization by a female partner is considered emasculating and might ultimately deter males from reporting their victimization and seeking help (Arnocky & Vaillancourt, 2014). The public is less certain about what kinds of domestic abuse are against the law. Respondents reported simply not knowing whether these behaviours are illegal than that they believe they are lawful (Carlso & Worden 2005). IPV is not exclusively limited to female victims is an important step toward addressing the needs of male victims. (Wallace, 2014). Final comments that physical and psychological IPV may produce long-term adverse physical and mental health effects for both women and men. If IPV can be identified early, interventions could be developed to reduce the impact of IPV on mental and physical health status (Cocker, 2002).
Concept Development Heat sensitive Urinal Stickers
To create the awareness, support and show males there is help out there I have come to the conclusion these are great ways to distribute the information. The heat sensitive urinal stickers are a way for males to get information and awareness of male victim partner violence in a way that is discrete for them as they are at a urinal and also away from a potential perpetrator. The stickers are printed on PVC with a layer of special heat-sensitive ink with a layer of laminate on top. When the sticker is exposed to 31 degrees (urine), the layer of ink becomes transparent, revealing what is hiding underneath.
Heat sensitive Coasters
Most males love to have a beer at a pub or when they are out, so once a cold drink is put on the coaster it would display a hidden message. The coasters will be made from paper and have a normal ink layer, thermo-ink layer and a coating layer. The coaster will look like a normal coaster until the cold drink is put on it. I would like these to be implemented at a bar, pub, or similar and distributed to only men.
What Works?
This research outcome works in many ways, it will discretely give awareness of male victims of partner violence through design, show that there’s help out there to the victims and where to find it and to break down the stigma that is attached to male victims. I think I have found a gap in research in intimate partner violence as it is a topic often disregarded by society and also a unique way to convey a message to males in society.
Future Directions The future direction for this project would to roll it out across Australia and add different formats. In addition to the urinal stickers and coasters, shopping cart heat sensitive handles would be a great idea that could be interchangeable for different designs and even different causes. As well as heat sensitive take-away coffee sleeves that can be changed and given to men that get coffee as a lot of men go out to get takeaway coffee especially office workers.
Timeline To Complete
Week 8 Design Stickers
Week 7 Design Coasters
Week 10 Refine Specs & send files to printers
Week 9 Refine Stickers & Coasters
Week 12 Presentation
Week 11 Take photos of outcomes and create presentation
Week 13 Presentation
Finish.