by Enzo Lenine and Naentrem Sanca
Abstract
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive phenomenon in virtually all societies. It has garnered international attention in global fora and academia as a result of longstanding feminist struggles. From our grounding in feminist International Relations (IR), we reflect upon our experiences of researching GBV in Angola, Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau. Our focus is on the messages conveyed by acts of violence that target women and feminised subjects, which constitute a system of communication of power and subordination with structural ramifications in society. The overall aim of the research is to unravel the meanings of gendered acts of violence in terms of existing power relations in these countries and as understood by a range of interlocutors, including survivors, activists, researchers, and government officials. Our investigation of the dynamics of acts of GBV has involved deeper feminist reflections on the politics of research and power relations. In this article, we focus on our methodological approach of using conversations as a means for enabling discussion and interpretation of power relations, with particular attention paid to our positionalities. In so doing, we seek to contribute to current reflections in feminist IR about positionalities, especially in research on GBV that is conducted in the Global South, and in Portuguese-speaking African countries, in particular.
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04_FA2025_Vol6.1-VGP1_Feature-Article_Lenine-Sanca