Change, Continuity, and Contestations: Framing Domestic Abuse Policy in Scotland Since 1998

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My research explores four key themes:1. Conditions and contexts for policy change: My research adds to knowledge on domestic abuse policy-making in post-devolution Scotland by highlighting the contexts and conditions under which policy change can occur. Internationally and domestically regarded as a policy leader, Scotland's 'success stories' of progressive policymaking are rooted in an approach that integrates gendered ideas and frames (framing domestic abuse as a cause and consequence of gender inequality). My research investigates the specific configuration of timing, events, actors, and institutions that created favourable conditions for feminist policy change. However, it complicates the 'feminist success' narratives by pointing to the legacies of old institutions and 'ways of working' in limiting women's movement's ability to effect the kind of change to which they aspire.2. Frames and sequencing: My research contributes to questions around policy change (see Pierson, 2000a; 2000b; 2004) by arguing that the sequencing (or order) in which policy frames are implemented in policy-making matters for enhancing or constraining policy change, impacting upon future framing decisions and policy directions. I pinpoint the ways in which the sequencing of policy frames 'matters' in the Scottish case, explaining how and why some policy frames are embedded in policy while others are side-lined, and the long-lasting effects of policy decisions on future policy frames and proposed solutions.3. Anti-gender resistance: Muddying the narrative of Scotland's 'success story', my research highlights ongoing resistance in framing the problem of domestic abuse. Establishing an extensive empirical timeline and detailed tracing of policy and resistance over time, it provides one of the first detailed accounts of how, why and where this resistance has emerged, highlighting three mechanisms of resistance: misunderstandings, sanctioned ignorance, and active resistance. It provides new insights into how feminist ideas are contested and actively resisted and its effects on policy change and continuity, both in the present and future.4. Contestations within women's movements: My research explores how the framing of domestic abuse has been contested within the women's movement in Scotland over time - known as intramovement contestations (Benford and Snow, 2000; Benford, 1997). Previous research (Mackay, 2010) has examined the unitary success of the women's movement in generating feminist policy change in Scotland, but my research points towards to two enduring and interconnected intramovement contestations in the Scottish case. I argue that power imbalances in policy-making processes have (re)produced the marginalisation of minority survivors, impacting upon the effectiveness of policy. It highlights the necessity for scholars interested in policy change to be attentive to diversity and debates within movements.The Fellowship provides an opportunity to maximise the impact of my findings and establish a strong publishing track record, preparing me for a future academic career with strong ties to both academic and non-academic stakeholders. I aim to publish two journal articles, develop a book proposal, and present at academic and practitioner conferences, contributing to knowledge across various fields (policy, gender and politics, gender-based violence). I aim to produce a policy briefing on intersectional policy-making, which I will launch at a KEI event, maximising the real-world impact of my thesis. I will develop my research and professional skills through an institutional visit, developing my conceptual framework and manuscript, and building new networks and attending professional development workshops at Edinburgh. Finally, in collaboration with my mentor, I will develop funding proposals for longer-term Fellowships. These aims will enhance my competitiveness and position me well for the next stage of my academic career.