Driving Factors and Actions Taken by Women to Confront Violence: Qualitative Research Based on Art

Abstract

This qualitative study based on art aimed to analyze the critical path of women in coping with situations of violence in the city of Santa Maria/Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in these women’s perspective. It has as settings the Women’s Police Station (DEAM) and the institutional care service for women in situations of violence, named Casa Abrigo (Shelter House). The “talking map” creativity and sensitivity technique was used in conjunction with the in-depth interview to analyze the critical path of 12 women in situations of violence. The driving factors of the critical path of women in coping with situations of violence were related to their knowledge about the DEAM’s assistance, their perceptions about the experience of different types of violence, the fact that they can no longer stand the violence and that they worry about their children, as well as the support of their family, of the ex-husband’s or ex-partner’s relatives, and of their female friends. The decisions executed and actions taken by the women included reporting the aggressor, requesting a restraining order, seeking help from the guardianship council and family members, getting back together with the aggressor, and leaving home. There is a need to strengthen the decision-making process of women in situations of violence to break the silence and the situation of violence. For this purpose, it is urgent to broaden the information for and knowledge of women about where and how to seek help, through access to clear and precise information in all places that compose the assistance network for these women.

Perceived Reportability of Intimate Partner Violence against Women to the Police and Help-seeking: A National Survey

“…The previous analysis is congruent with the marginal association found between IPV acceptability and perceived reportability: the higher the IPV acceptance, the lower its perceived reportability. It is tenable that people understand that an IPV situation is not reportable to the police if they accept that this situation occurs naturally in intimate relationships ( Arboit & Mello-Padoin, 2020 ; García-Díaz et al, 2017; Goodson & Hayes, 2021 ; Liang et al, 2005 ; Parvin et al, 2016 ). Our data empirically support that claim while assuming lower confidence levels.…”

“…may have a detrimental effect on reportability. People understand that an IPV situation is not reportable to the police if they believe that the situation occurs naturally in intimate relationships and if this leads them to not perceive the situation as particularly serious (Arboit & Mello-Padoin, 2020;García-Díaz et al, 2017;Goodson & Hayes, 2021;Liang et al, 2005;Parvin et al, 2016). Experiences of victimization, especially if they are perceived as nonsevere, may lead women to normalize the abusive situation.…”

“…The literature in this field has examined attitudes toward IPV, such as IPV acceptance or IPV-supporting attitudes and behaviors, to understand how women victims (and their social environment) cope with IPV situations ( Gracia et al, 2020 ). The extent to which victims understand that specific behaviors constitute IPV is key to beginning the help-seeking process ( Arboit & Mello-Padoin, 2020 ; Parvin et al, 2016 ). Researchers have empirically shown that while some women define themselves as victims, others do not, even though they suffer the same partner behaviors ( García-Díaz et al, 2017 ).…”

Desafios na proteção às mulheres em situação de violência no contexto de pandemia da covid-19/Protection of women in situations of violence in the context of the covid-19 pandemic

“…Dessa forma, as opções de suporte da família, de vizinhos e amigos podem estar restritas, intensificando a violência vivida pelas mulheres e suas consequências (18,19) . Esses fatores são preocupantes, pois sabe-se que o apoio de pessoas próximas é fundamental para impulsionar as mulheres em situação de violência a enfrentá-la e buscar ajuda (20,21) , dando início ao que se conceitua de rota crítica.…”