Ten female survivors of physically assaultive domestic violence were
interviewed three times each in a feminist, qualitative study designed to access
their perceptions about their children's experiences in domestic violence. All
participants had children living with them at the time of the abuse and were one
to five years out of the abuse.
All women stated their children had been exposed to domestic violence.
Women described their children's involvement in the following areas: legal
(visitation, custody, child support); indirect involvement (witnessing effects of
abuse) and direct involvement (feeling responsible, protecting parents); and
direct child maltreatment. Child maltreatment rates measured by homes were:
physical (50%); sexual (20%); emotional (90%); and neglect (70%).
No patterns were present regarding child involvement. That is,
children's involvement did not progress in a clear pattern from indirect to direct.
While all women protected their children in the relationship, four turning
points were identified in a continuum of women's protective actions: child
witnessed abuse to mom; mom saw signs in child; emotional abuse to the child;
and physical or sexual abuse to the child. Turning points were the points at
which the women recognized they could no longer protect their children within
the context of the violent relationship. Unmarried women reached their turning
point earlier while women whose church involvement dictated strict obedience
to spouse and those who experienced the most severe physical abuse reached
their turning points later. Turning points often corresponded with leaving the
relationship and were related to both social context and individual variables.
Perceptions of motherhood in domestic violence were also studied.
Women cited their children as important influences in staying with, returning to,
and leaving abusive partners. Women stayed in relationships because of
socially conditioned beliefs about children needing fathers, beliefs about
marriage and family, and perceptions of children's bonds with their fathers.
Finally, women's perceptions of motherhood fell into four categories:
protection of their children; conflict between roles as wife and mother; concern
about meeting their children's needs; and guilt about mothering. The two
women who prioritized the needs of their children over their abusive partners
were spared some guilt. / Graduation date: 1999
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/33380 |
| Date | 06 May 1999 |
| Creators | Wood, Barbara L. |
| Contributors | Pratt, Clara C. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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