This video offers an in-depth reflection on female violence through an interview with Virginie Tournefier, a doctor of psychopathology and psychoanalysis, and a psychoclinician at the Youth Judicial Protection Service. She explores a largely overlooked perspective: recognizing and analyzing female violence to better understand the relationships between women and men, gender stereotypes, and prevention mechanisms.
The interview reveals that violence perpetrated by women exists, but remains difficult to conceptualize socially, scientifically, and legally. It is often minimized, denied, or interpreted as violence "borrowed" from men, leading to biases in legal and clinical care. This invisibility hinders a nuanced understanding of the acts committed and impedes effective prevention.
Based on her clinical experience with adolescent girls and boys under the supervision of the Youth Justice System (PJJ), Virginie Tournefier explains that female violence is not limited to victimization, even if traumatic experiences sometimes play a role. It can also be a form of defense, protection, self-affirmation, or belonging to a group, and can be expressed in particularly violent collective forms.
The discussion also addresses the issue of sexual violence perpetrated by women, a topic long overlooked, as well as the effects of social norms that restrict or displace the expression of violence among girls. The video emphasizes the importance of moving beyond simplistic interpretations to better support these young people, prevent recidivism, and enable them to experience a more peaceful adolescent development.
Underlying this is the video's argument that thinking about women's violence does not weaken the fight against male violence: on the contrary, it allows us to better understand gender dynamics, to break free from stereotypes and to strengthen the prevention of all forms of violence.
