Honour, Violence and Gender — An international research review

Abstract

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of international research on honour-based violence, with a focus on understanding its various manifestations and causes, identifying exposed groups and uncovering gaps in research. As shown in the introduction, honour-based violence is described and conceptualised in different contexts. This, in combination with the consequences of honour-based violence, both as a lived reality and political concept, shows the necessity of this review. The review is guided by scoping review, which is used as a model to address open questions and allow exploration and clarification of concepts and definitions within the literature. This broad-based approach allows different disciplines, perspectives and understandings of honour-based violence to emerge, contributing to knowledge development, knowledge exchange and further exploration of honour-based violence. By focusing on important parts of the literature, this review provides a broad and unique overview for both researchers and policymakers.

This research review describes scientific discourses, conducted in English, in which the study object is presented in relation to honour. This represents a significant constraint, as important non-Western perspectives may have been excluded, potentially influencing the overall findings. It describes what English-speaking researchers’ study and publish with regard to honour-based violence, how they understand honour-based violence and how they explore the consequences and underlying factors of these kinds of violence. It does not answer the question: what is honour-based violence?