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Professor Marianne Hester holds the Chair in Gender, Violence and International Policy in the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol and is Co-Director of the Violence Against Women Research Group.
She has acted as Research Director to the Department of Health & National Institute for Mental Health 'Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Programme' and as Specialist Advisor to the Home Affairs Select Committee.
She is a prolific researcher, whose work has influenced policy and practice in various countries, including the UK, Scandinavia, and Germany.
Since 1980 she has researched many aspects of violence against women and children, including a number of ground-breaking studies on child abuse: on child abuse in the context of contact arrangements and domestic violence in both England and Denmark (e.g. Hester & Radford 1996; Hester 2005; Radford & Hester 2006), some of the only UK research to directly link domestic violence and child sexual abuse (Hester & Pearson 1998, Hester 2000 - in conjunction with the NSPCC) and a comparison of child maltreatment in China and the UK, one of the first studies to deal with this issue in the Chinese context (Hester & Gangoli 2005; Hester 2005).
Another ground-breaking study in process of completion, 'comparing domestic violence in same sex and heterosexual relationships', is the most detailed study of its kind, and also includes important findings in relation to abuse in young people's same sex relationships (funded by the ESRC, with C. Donovan).
The topic areas for Professor Hester's research are broad, ranging from examining the sexual and other abuse experiences of children and adults in a variety of contexts, to the practices and polices associated with criminal justice, and with public and private child protection and welfare approaches. Working on such a 'broad canvas' has enabled development of new conceptual models of direct relevance to child sexual exploitation.
For instance the 'three planet model' provides analysis of the links and contradictions between work on domestic violence, child protection and child contact, and has been used by many practitioners working in child protection and related fields (Hester 2004). Another conceptual model is the 'model of needs and support', which identifies the dynamic processes involved in entry into and exit from street prostitution by young people and adults and helps practitioners provide the most effective support at the appropriate time (Hester & Westmarland 2004).
Most of Professor Hester's work is multi-methodological, using both 'qualitative' and 'quantitative' approaches, such as large-scale surveys, focus groups and interviews. All her research is concerned with issues of gender and to an increasing extent with sexuality, race/ethnicity and nationality.
Hester, M., Pearson, C. & Harwin, N. with Abrahams, H. (2007). Making an impact: children and domestic violence. A reader . 2nd ed. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Hester, M. (2007). Issues of custody and access following violence in the home in Denmark and Britain. In: M. Jaspard and S. Condon (eds). Colloque scientifique européen. Nommer et compter les violences envers les femmes en Europe: enjeux scientifiques et politiques. Paris la Sorbonne, le 26 septembre 2005 .
Hester, M & Westmarland, N. (2007). Domestic violence perpetrators (PDF). Criminal Justice Matters. 66: 34-36.
Radford, L. & Hester, M. (2006). Mothering through domestic violence . London: Jessica Kingsley.
Hester, M. (2006) Making it through the criminal justice system: attrition and domestic violence. Social Policy and Society. 5(1): 79-90.
Hester (2006). Asking about domestic violence: implications for practice. In: C. Humphreys, & N. Stanley (eds). Domestic violence and child protection: directions for good practice . London: Jessica Kingsley.
Hester, M. & Gangoli, G (2005). Comparison and collaboration: researching young people's experiences and perceptions of violence in the family across China and the UK. In: T. Skinner, M. Hester & E. Malos (eds). Researching gender violence: feminist methodology in action . Cullompton, Devon: Willan Press.
Hester (2005). Children, abuse and parental contact in Denmark. In: M. Eriksson, M. Hester, S. Keskinen, & K. Pringle, (eds). Tackling men's violence in families: Nordic issues and dilemmas. Bristol: Policy Press.
Hester (2005) Tackling men's violence in families: lessons for England. In: M. Eriksson, M. Hester, S. Keskinen, & K. Pringle, (eds). Tackling men's violence in families: Nordic issues and dilemmas . Bristol: Policy Press.
Hester, M. (2005). Violence and sexual coercion in relationships: the views of university students in China and the UK. Berliner China-Hefte/Chinese History and Society. 29: 36-47.
Hester, M. (2005). Transnational influences on domestic violence policy and action: exploring developments in China and England. Social Policy and Society. 4(4): 447-456.
Hester, M. & Westmarland, N. (2005). Tackling domestic violence: effective interventions and approaches (PDF). Home Office Research Study 290. London: Home Office.
Hester, M. & Westmarland, N. (2004). Tackling street prostitution: towards an holistic approach (PDF). Home Office Research Study 279. London: Home Office.
Hester, M. (2004). Future trends and developments: violence against women in Europe and East Asia. Violence Against Women. 10(12): 1431-1448.
Hester, M. (2002). One step forward and three steps back? Children, abuse and parental contact in Denmark. Child and Family Law Quarterly. 14(3): 267-279.
Eriksson, M & Hester, M. (2001). Violent men as good enough fathers? A look at England and Sweden. Violence Against Women. 7(7): 779-798.
Humphreys, C., Mullender, A. & Hague, G., Hester, M. (2001). Domestic violence and child abuse: developing sensitive policies and guidance. Child Abuse Review . 10(3):183-197.
Humphreys, C., Hester, M., Hague, G., Mullender, A., Abrahams, H. & Lowe, P. (2000). From good intentions to good practice: mapping services for families where there is domestic violence . Bristol: Policy Press in association with Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Hester, M., Pearson, C. (1998). From periphery to centre: domestic violence in work with abused children . Bristol: Policy Press in association with Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
For further information visit:
www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/research/fpcw/staff/hester.shtml
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