Developing a Theoretical Framework to Discuss Mothers Experiencing Domestic Violence and Being Subject to Interventions: A Cross-National Perspective

Abstract

The discourse about domestic violence has developed in patriarchal societies, and so we position our understanding of ‘mother’ within a patriarchal framework. We explore the ways in which ‘mothering’ and ‘mother blame’ have been constructed within that framework and how this becomes relevant in the context of domestic violence and child welfare social work. We review literature from Australia, Canada, England and Wales, and the United States of America that has focused on child welfare responses to mothers experiencing domestic violence and abuse. On the basis of that review, we argue that mothers are responsibilised for violence and abuse they do not perpetrate. We show that the way legislation operates in some jurisdictions facilitates hegemonic, patriarchal constructions. We call for a review of current child welfare social work policy and practice in which domestic violence is present.

The Motherhood Penalty—Understanding the Gendered Role of Motherhood in the Life Histories of Incarcerated South African Women

“…Currently, there are 2957 sentenced and 1359 unsentenced women in correctional facilities across the country, which, in a total carceral population of 162,875, denotes that women make up less than 3% of the entire South African incarcerated population (DCS, 2019). From the statistics listed above, we can conclude that the population of incarcerated women in South Africa is a tiny minority compared to their male counterparts, which is consistent with overseas literature (Adams, 2020;Arnull & Stewart, 2021;Epstein, 2014;Larroulet et al, 2020) The United Nations (UN) reports that incarcerated women experience augmented risks of abuse throughout their adolescent and adult lives, coupled with high instances of mental health disorder diagnoses, including substance use disorders resulting from self-medicating due to histories of trauma (UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, 2013). They also have an increased likelihood of being the sole providers and caretakers of children prior to incarceration, as well as a history of employment in low wage, entry-level positions (UN Handbook on Women and Imprisonment, 2014).…”

“…In concurrence with the most common concern highlighted in literature on justiceinvolved women, cumulative forms of violence dominated the history of polyvictimization experienced by the women pre-incarceration (Arnull & Stewart, 2021;DeHart et al, 2013;Kennedy et al, 2021;Steyn & Booyens, 2017). Various violent behaviors were perpetrated against the women interviewed (n = 11) by their intimate partners or family members, which manifested in acts of physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, and emotional abuse.…”

“…Feminist, gender responsive studies conducted abroad report that women who experience incarceration most often are single mothers from disadvantaged circumstances in relegated communities prior to incarceration (Arnull & Stewart, 2021;Barnes & Stringer, 2014;De Coster & Heimer, 2020). Indeed, the majority of women in correctional facilities are mothers, such as in the United States and Russian Federation where 80% of incarcerated women are mothers (Glaze & Maruschak, 2010;Townhead, 2007;UN Handbook on Women and Imprisonment, 2014).…”

Mothers, Domestic Violence, and Child Protection: The UK Response

“…Patriarchy within social work has been challenged. Fox Harding (2014) and Arnull and Stewart (2021) among others have argued that patriarchy is played out through systems and structures such as the welfare state and inequalities, as opposed to the actions of individual social workers. This article intends to further explore these arguments in specific relation to mothers with violent partners.…”

The attitudes and beliefs of the child protection workforce and why they matter to children who live with violence

“…Much has been written about the shortcomings of the statutory child protection response to domestic violence. This includes that the primacy of the rights of the child drives the engagement with the family, often placing sole responsibility for the children on the mother and failing to provide genuine options for safety for her and her children (Arnull & Stewart, 2021). Further critique characterizes the system response as mother blaming, which in turn renders male perpetrators of violence invisible (Cramp & Zufferey, 2021).…”