In the UK, we are at a pivotal moment regarding gender based violence (GBV) in universities. The preceding chapters reflect on lessons learned and directions for future approaches to tackling GBV. In this final chapter, we highlight the emerging key themes from the contributions to this volume and identify gaps and possibilities in current research and practice.

Exploring GBV as part of the continuum of violence

The chapters in this volume approach GBV as part of the continuum of violence (Kelly, 1988) that includes sexual violence and harassment, intimate partner violence, and homophobic and transphobic abuse. Rather than taking the narrower focus on sexual violence that some others adopt, especially in the US, our approach has been more broadly on the variety of forms of GBV. While focused examination of the particularities of specific forms of GBV has tremendous value for developing our understanding of the phenomenon and effective responses, it is vital we see these specific forms as part of the greater whole of the continuum of abuse that Kelly (1988) identified. Broader understanding of the various types of GBV as part of a continuum helps to highlight the connections between these different types of GBV, for example, advertising Freshers’ Weeks events in ways that sexually objectify and demean women helps create a culture whereby sexual assault is normalised and victim-blaming is commonplace. This broader perspective highlights the role of not only behaviours but also attitudes and cultural norms in scaffolding sexism and misogyny, as identified by Sundaram (Chapter One in this volume) in her analysis of young people's conceptualisations of violence which lead to its toleration, normalisation and trivialisation. Understanding the attitudes and norms that underpin GBV helps recognise that interventions need to target a range of behaviours, attitudes and cultural norms; interventions such as The Intervention Initiative (Fenton and Mott's chapter), Stand Together (Jordan et al's chapter) and Get Savi (Hutchinson's chapter) recognise the continuum and the connections between different manifestations of GBV.

However, some of the contributions to this book have tended to focus on sexual violence, sexual harassment and the ‘wallpaper of sexism’ (Lewis et al, 2015) in the context of the renewed interest in ‘lad culture’, rather than, for example, intimate partner violence or homophobic and transphobic abuse, both of which warrant further scholarly and policy attention.