‘My Eyes Were Open’: Awakened Maternal Identity and Leaving Violent Relationships for the Infant/Children

Secco, Loretta; Letourneau, Nicole; Collins, Erin

doi:10.1007/s10896-016-9799-x

Cited by 19 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Second, service providers identified the position of the child as a trigger to leave the abuser when the children were presented in the stories as victims of violence or as being in need of a mother figure. This finding is also consistent with studies on IPV and mothering (Secco et al, 2016;Zink et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

The Position of the Child in the Life Experiences of Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Study of Service Providers’ Perspectives in Spain

Herrero‐Arias

Ortiz-Barreda

Hollekim

et al. 2019

J Interpers Violence

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Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health concern that has serious effects on the well-being of women and their children. Being a mother and an immigrant are critical factors that prevent women from seeking to end an abusive relationship. Evidence suggests that immigrant women see their children’s well-being and future as paramount while managing an abusive relationship. However, less is known about how women negotiate their children’s needs and interests when deciding whether to stay with or leave an abusive partner. Drawing on interviews with IPV service providers in Spain, this study aims to explore providers’ understandings of the position of the child in mothers’ reflections regarding whether to end an abusive relationship and of the implications of such positioning for mothers’ decision-making. The findings indicate that children hold two main positions in this process. In one, children are positioned as a trigger for mothers to stay with abusers. This occurs when women are economically dependent on their partner, when they think that their children need a father figure, or when the abuser plays a role in women’s migratory status within Spain. Second, children are positioned as a trigger for mothers to leave abusers when mothers see children as victims of violence or children in need of a mother figure. Framed by positioning theory, we discuss how we can understand the consequences of such positioning for immigrant women who are survivors of IPV and for service provision in this context. The implications of the findings for research, policy making, and professional decision-making are discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

The Position of the Child in the Life Experiences of Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Study of Service Providers’ Perspectives in Spain

Herrero‐Arias

Ortiz-Barreda

Hollekim

et al. 2019

J Interpers Violence

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“…Framed by the theoretical concept of patriarchal bargain [14], we discuss that the women strategized within a complex set of structural constraints-poverty, traditional gender roles, social stigma, cultures of honor-aiming to optimize their survival within the Vietnamese system of male dominance. Consistent with previous studies [24][25][26], the results show that motherhood plays a decisive role in the decisions women make regarding whether to bargain with patriarchy or leave the abuser. Their children's wellbeing, understood as a state of physical and emotional health but also social inclusion and belonging, was paramount for the participants and was at the core of their experiences.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Keeping silent or running away. The voices of Vietnamese women survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Herrero‐Arias

Truong

Ortiz-Barreda

et al. 2020

Global Health Action

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Background: Legislative initiatives have been implemented to fight against Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and offer protection to its survivors in Vietnam. However, this type of violence is relatively common in the country, where broader structural inequalities, like poverty and the system of male dominance, increase women's vulnerability to IPV. Objective: This study aimed to explore the strategies that Vietnamese IPV survivors take to cope with the abuse from their partners and maximize their safety and wellbeing. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with eight women survivors of IPV who lived in one of the Peace House Shelter in Hanoi. Participants were recruited through the shelter. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using qualitative content framed by the theoretical concept of the patriarchal bargain. Results: The IPV survivors in our study took two main strategies to cope with IPV: keeping silent and/or leaving the abuser. Leaving was a challenging strategy because it required support from others, something that was difficult to find due to the social stigma associated with divorce and the normalization of violence in intimate relationships. This was specially the case for participants coming from rural areas who did not count on a social network in the city where the shelter is located. The women strategized within a complex set of structural constrains like poverty, cultures of honor, social stigma, and traditional gender roles. As active agents, they decided whether challenging the patriarchal system would optimize their life options. Motherhood also played a crucial role in women's decisions regarding IPV. Conclusion:A strategy of conformity like silence can be a tactic for women to cope with a system of male dominance while navigating complex structural inequalities. To better address IPV in Vietnam, interventions should be sensitive to the structural gender inequalities within family and societal contexts.

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“…Concern for the infant was the motivating factor for all ten mothers to leave their violent partner, a finding consistent with other recent studies involving children (Rasool 2015;Secco et al 2016). This may speak to the growing awareness of the negative impacts of violence on children, the rights of mothers and children to be free from violence, and an increase in service provision and supports than has been captured in earlier studies examining reasons for leaving (Bell et al 2007;Meyer 2012).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

The Experience of the Infant Entering Refuge (Shelter) Setting with Their Mothers After Fleeing Family Violence

2020

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Almost nothing is known about how the infant may experience being in a women's Refuge (Shelter) setting with their mother after fleeing family violence, despite the high numbers of infants and young children in Refuges or Shelters. This research was concerned with exploring how the infant experienced refuge within a Refuge setting post family violence. Using a non-intrusive, ethically informed, 'infant led' approach, this research involved ten infants (aged 3 weeks to 16 months), ten mothers, and 13 staff in eight Refuges from three countries: Australia, Scotland and England. Data was collected through infant observation, interviews with mothers and then staff. Presented is a synthesis of a research methodology which was led by the infant, drew on concepts of 'inter-subjectivity' and used a constructivist grounded theory method. Infants were often lost from view within the Refuge setting. The mother, herself traumatised, was expected to be the refuge for her infant. Only the obviously distressed infant was assisted, and where available, from outside specialist workers. It was often too painful for the adults, both mothers and staff, to see or reflect on the infant's possible trauma. Significantly, in all cases the motivation for each mother to enter Refuge was ensuring their infant's safety. Concern for their infant or young child can be a powerful catalyst for women leaving a violent relationship. Refuges (Shelters) are in a unique position to respond to the infant in their own right whilst helping to heal and grow the infant/ mother relationship.

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‘My Eyes Were Open’: Awakened Maternal Identity and Leaving Violent Relationships for the Infant/Children

Cited by 19 publications

References 29 publications

The Position of the Child in the Life Experiences of Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Study of Service Providers’ Perspectives in Spain

The Position of the Child in the Life Experiences of Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Study of Service Providers’ Perspectives in Spain

Keeping silent or running away. The voices of Vietnamese women survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

The Experience of the Infant Entering Refuge (Shelter) Setting with Their Mothers After Fleeing Family Violence

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