"Why Don't They Just Leave?": An Immersive Role-Playing Activity on Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

This in-class activity requires students to take on the role of an individual making decisions about whether to stay or leave an abusive relationship. It is designed to demonstrate the constrained choices that complicate leaving decisions, thereby addressing a common question heard in courses when discussing intimate partner violence: "Why don’t they just...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Family

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Medium

Usage Notes

Materials needed: (1) Script read by the instructor [see "Instructions for Instructors" document]; (2) Green slips of paper—enough for each student to have 9-15 slips; (3) Yellow slips of paper—enough for each student to have 5-9 slips; (4) Seven boxes or baskets to collect slips; (5) Seven posters/sheets of paper designating locations and tape for...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Identify and describe different types of intimate partner coercion and violence.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the complicated decision-making processes involved in leaving abusive relationships.
3. Engage in reflection about one’s own ideas about intimate partner violence and decision-making.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Post-activity group discussion of forms of intimate partner coercion and violence present in the role-playing activity.
2. Student responses to post-activity reflection prompt and/or group discussion questions regarding their decisions during the activity.
3. Pre- and post-activity reflection writing, as well as group discussion responses.