Embracing and Expanding Feminist Theory: (Re)conceptualizing Gender and Power

In this commentary, I promote the continued value of feminist theory for understanding gendered violence. I examine the ways that the four articles featured in this special issue engage with feminist theory's focus on gender and power. I argue that each concept is critical to feminist analysis and needs to be conceptualized as interconnected and operating at structural, interactional/relational, and individual levels. I further investigate the extent to which the articles do, or could, account for intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) lives, arguing that this is a necessary and critical step in our continued efforts to develop stronger theories of gendered violence. I end with a discussion of some implications of these articles and their conceptual contributions for future research.