Spotlight: Using an Intersectional Lens in Domestic Abuse Work
Domestic Abuse is Never a Standalone Issue
Every survivor’s experience is shaped by the combination of their identities, including ethnicity, gender identity, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, age, and socio-economic position. These intersecting factors influence how abuse is perpetrated, how it is understood, and how easily someone can seek help.
As part of this year’s 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence, we are highlighting the experiences of marginalised communities. The aim is clear: without an intersectional approach, the people most at risk are often the ones least seen.
Why Intersectionality Matters
Using an intersectional lens means recognising the factors that shape risk and create barriers to safety. Racism, homophobia, misogyny, transphobia, ableism, language barriers, and distrust of statutory agencies can all intersect with domestic abuse. These barriers can silence victims, delay help-seeking, and increase danger if professionals do not recognise them.
Effective practice relies on adapting our approach, not expecting survivors to fit an inflexible system. This includes asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and tailoring safety planning to someone’s lived reality. Intersectionality is not a specialist topic; it is a core competency for safe and accountable domestic abuse practice.
Practical Tips for Professionals
- Slow down and get curious - Use open questions and avoid assumptions about culture, gender roles, or family dynamics.
- Consider hidden barriers - Think beyond the immediate situation. Factors like racism, disability, immigration status, sexuality, or language needs can significantly affect risk and disclosure.
- Avoid one-size-fits-all responses - Safe options for one person may be unsafe or culturally inappropriate for another. Adapt your approach.
- Challenge structural bias - Check whether your service processes or policies unintentionally exclude certain groups and raise concerns where needed.
- Use interpreters appropriately - Only use trained, independent interpreters. Never use friends, relatives, or community members.
- Build trust intentionally - Be transparent about safeguarding and confidentiality. Consistency matters, especially for people who have experienced discrimination from services.
- Link with specialist ‘by and for’ organisations - Their support may be more accessible or culturally relevant for some survivors.
- Reflect on your own practice - Ask yourself who you are not seeing and why. Intersectionality requires continuous learning and honest reflection.
Our Ongoing Commitment
Although the 16 Days of Action shines a spotlight on marginalised communities, our commitment to intersectional practice continues all year. At GDASS, we are working to embed this approach across everything we do, because structural inequalities and discrimination create real barriers for many victims.
Our goal remains consistent: a Gloucestershire where every professional understands how someone’s intersecting identities shape their experience of abuse and adapts their response accordingly. Intersectionality is ongoing practice, not a seasonal message.
Sector News
Domestic Abuse Protection Orders See Strong Early Impact
The national DAPO pilot has now protected more than 1,000 victims, with police forces reporting reduced repeat abuse and swift enforcement for breaches. These flexible orders cover all forms of domestic abuse, signalling a significant shift toward more responsive and survivor-focused protection. Read more here.
CPS Launches New Strategy to Tackle Overlapping Abuse
The CPS has introduced a new five-year VAWG Strategy after data showed major overlap between domestic abuse, rape, stalking, and image-based offences. Prosecutors will now receive enhanced training to recognise complex patterns of harm, including coercive control and tech-facilitated abuse. Read more here.
ONS Reviews How Domestic Abuse Is Measured Nationally
The ONS has released a research update on improving how the Crime Survey for England and Wales captures domestic abuse. The review aims to better recognise coercive, non-physical and technology-facilitated abuse, which are often underreported but increasingly central to victim experience. Read more here.
Rise in Technology-Facilitated Abuse Prompts Sector Concern
Recent reporting highlights a significant increase in digital abuse, including stalkerware, hidden cameras, deepfakes, and online financial harm. These behaviours are becoming more common within domestic abuse cases, reinforcing the need for digital safeguarding within risk assessments and safety plans. Read more here.
Research and Resources
3.8 Million Experienced Domestic Abuse in 2024-2025
The latest release from Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that an estimated 3.8 million people aged 16 or over in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025 - that is 7.8 % of adults. This fresh data provides an updated picture of prevalence and highlights the scale of demand services like ours continue to face. Read the full ONS report
New Police-Led Studies Find Reduced Repeat Abuse Where Forensic Marking Used
The College of Policing recently published evaluations (2025) of three interventions to tackle VAWG; one, forensic marking, was linked to a 22 % reduction in repeat domestic abuse incidents over six months when used alongside property marking or offender‑marking kits. This suggests forensic‑marking tools could be a valuable addition to safety planning and risk reduction - particularly where traditional protective measures are not sufficient. See full research summaries
New UK Study on Police Responses to Domestic Abuse with Children
A new report from the Home Office (in partnership with academics) examines how frontline police in England and Wales respond to domestic abuse incidents when children are involved. It looks at how officers assess children’s welfare, communicate with them, handle referrals and coordinate with other agencies; and identifies variability in practice. This is a useful resource for professionals working around safeguarding, child protection, and multi‑agency responses, prompting careful reflection on when and how to involve children and on consistency of safeguarding standards. Read the full police‑response report