In this study, the topic of men’s violence against women has been highlighted. Men’s violence against women is a societal problem that occurs in various social groups, ages and cultures. The study conducts semi-structured interviews with six social workers to examine their experiences working with abused women with foreign backgrounds. The collected data were analyzed through thematic analysis method based on: the normalization process, empowerment and break-up process. The study showed that some of the main factors that made it difficult for women were children, emotional ties, financial and housing dependencies. This study also confirmed previous studies which showed that women with a foreign background are particularly vulnerable and thus find it more difficult to break up a relationship due to societal norms, language difficulties, social networks and because of their ignorance of society. This study also shows that the interviewed social workers found that motivation and support given to violated women in various processes made the break-up process easier for these women. However, the social workers encountered some difficulties working with women with a foreign background, such as communication difficulties.

Syftet med studien var att identifiera de faktorer i kvinnors utsatthet för våld av män i nära relationer som påverkar deras val och möjlighet att stanna i alternativt lämna en våldsam parrelation samt vilken inverkan och påverkan det sociala nätverket har på kvinnors beslut att stanna i alternativt lämna relationen. Genom kvalitativ innehållsanalys av fyra självbiografier skrivna av tidigare våldsutsatta kvinnor sammanställdes resultat, som tematiserades och analyserades med hjälp av teorierna och begreppen normaliseringsprocess, traumatisk bindning och uppbrottsprocess tillsammans med tidigare forskning. Resultatet visade att anledningar till att en våldsutsatt kvinna stannar i en våldsam parrelation är starka känslomässiga band, normalisering av våldet, beroende, psykisk nedbrytning, internalisering, rädsla samt hopp om förändring. Vad som gör att en våldsutsatt kvinna lämnar en våldsam parrelation är insikten om att det skulle vara ohållbart att stanna av olika anledningar samt rädsla för sitt eget eller annans liv. Uppbrottsprocessen kan förklaras likt en process i flera steg. Omgivningens stöd visade sig också ha stor betydelse i kvinnans val och möjlighet att kunna lämna relationen, dock är beslutet att lämna relationen tvunget att komma från kvinnan själv. Slutsatsen var därmed att kvinnor som utsätts för våld av män i nära relationer är en mycket utsatt grupp i samhället, relationen till männen är ofta komplex. För att bryta kvinnors isolering, som följd av våldsutsattheten, krävs insatser från omgivningen samt förändring på samhällelig nivå. / The purpose of the study was to identify the factors in women's exposure to violence by men in intimate relationships that affect their choice and ability to stay in or leave a violent relationship and what impact the social network has on women's decision to stay in or leave the relationship. Through qualitative content analysis of four autobiographies written by previously abused women, results were compiled, thematized and analysed using theories and concepts such as normalization process, traumatic bonding, and break-up process together with previous research. The results showed that reasons why an abused woman stays in a violent relationship are strong emotional bonds, normalization of violence, addiction, being mentally break down, internalization, fear and hope for change. What causes an abused woman to leave a violent relationship has turned out to be the realization that it would be unsustainable to stay for various reasons as well as fear for her own or someone else's life. The breaking process can be explained as a process in several steps. The social network had a great importance in the woman's choice and opportunity to be able to leave the relationship, however, the decision to leave had to come from the woman herself. The conclusion was thus that women who are exposed by men in intimate partner violence are a very vulnerable group in society, the relationship is often complex. Breaking women's isolation, as a result of domestic violence, requires efforts from the social network and change at the societal level.