Description of Causes of Familial Violence through Bird Symbol Painterly Narratives among People in Bushenyi District

Abstract

Domestic violence has often caused agony to many people, and a lot has been written proposing solutions to this vice. Restoring hope among people who have been affected by domestic violence in Secondary schools in Bushenyi District necessitates concerted effort and adopting ways that help to relieve the affected people of stress resulting from their experience with domestic violence. The current study focused on how bird symbol narratives can be used as sources of inspiration for therapeutic paintings articulating lived experiences relating to ever-increasing causes of domestic violence among various families in the Bushenyi district. A qualitative approach was employed, involving in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 50 participants drawn from diverse community segments, including elders, parents, teachers, and youth. Findings indicate that a bird symbol was successfully used to express causes of domestic violence based on themes such as Disrespect, Quarrelsomeness, Child neglect and Gossiping. The following objective guided the study: To identify ways in which bird symbols can be used as a source of inspiration for painterly narratives articulating causes of domestic violence. These metaphors served as powerful communicative tools that helped victims of domestic violence to relax, gain hope and lessen anxiety. The study demonstrates that metaphoric language rooted in local fauna provides valuable insights into community perceptions and can inform culturally sensitive intervention strategies. Overall, the research underscores the significance of leveraging indigenous metaphors to better understand and address causes of familial violence within the cultural context of Bushenyi District.