REFUGE FOR BATTERED WOMEN - A STUDY OF THE ROLE OF A WOMEN'S CENTRE

• NCJ Number: 57845
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 90 pages
• Sale Source: Her Majesty's Stationery Office
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO MONITOR THE SETTING UP AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANTERBURY WOMEN'S CENTRE, AND TO EVALUATE THE ASSISTANCE IT OFFERED TO THE WOMEN IN ENGLAND BETWEEN NOV. 1975 AND NOV. 1976.

Abstract

WOMEN WHO STAYED AT THE CENTRE WERE INTERVIEWED, ALONG WITH 9 OF THE WOMEN WHO SET IT UP. OUTLINE INFORMATION IS PRESENTED ON ALL THE WOMEN WHO STAYED AT THE REFUGE WHILE THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED. THE CENTRE WAS SET UP ACCORDING TO PRINCIPLES SIMILAR TO THOSE ADOPTED BY MANY WOMEN'S AID REFUGES, INCLUDING: (1) THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF SELF-HELP AND MUTUAL SUPPORT AMONG THE WOMEN LIVING IN THE CENTRE, (2) THE SHARING OF POWER AMONG ALL THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE CENTRE, AND (3) THE OPEN DOOR POLICY. THE CENTRE WAS USED BY WOMEN FROM ALL OVER KENT, MANY OF WHOM HAD NO CHILDREN WITH THEM, EITHER BECAUSE THEY WERE CHILDLESS OR BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN WERE ELSEWHERE. IN ADDITION, THE EXISTENCE OF THE CENTRE REVEALED THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM OF SINGLE HOMELESS WOMEN IN THE AREA. THE NEEDS OF BATTERED WOMEN, WITH OR WITHOUT CHILDREN, FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING HEADINGS: PROTECTION, ACCOMMODATION, SUPPORT, AND ADVICE. BEFORE COMING TO THE CENTRE THE WOMEN HAD SOUGHT HELP FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, BOTH INFORMALLY FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, AND MORE FORMALLY FROM AGENCIES. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE WOMEN VALUED THE PROTECTION AND ACCOMMODATION WHICH THE CENTRE OFFERED AND THE SUPPORT OF THE OTHER WOMEN, ALTHOUGH MANY WERE CONFUSED BY THE IDEAS OF SELF-HELP AND OF POWER SHARING. HOWEVER, THESE PRINCIPLES DID IN PRACTICE ENABLE SOME WOMEN TO REGAIN THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE. MOST WOMEN EXPERIENCED FEELINGS OF PERSONAL CHANGE DURING THEIR TIME AT THE CENTRE. THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SET UP THE CENTRE PROVIDED A SOLUTION WHICH WAS IN GENERAL APPROPRIATE TO THE PROBLEM, AND WHICH INVOLVED A RELATIVELY SMALL FINANCIAL BURDEN TO THE COMMUNITY. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN THE INTERVIEW, THE INVESTIGATOR'S CHECKLIST, AND PSEUDONYMS USED FOR THOSE INTERVIEWED. (MHP)