NCJ Number
187233
Journal
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2001 Pages: 3-35
Editor(s)
Jon R. Conte
Date Published
January 2001
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This article is the second part of a review of factors hindering battered women's chances of leaving violent relationships.
Abstract
The first part covered major external inhibiting factors, such as women's economic dependency and shortcomings of the criminal justice system. The second part focuses on additional external inhibiting factors, such as inadequate social support from workplaces and community agencies, and addresses internal inhibiting factors, including processes and effects of socialization, psychological and victimization events, and victim traits. Evidence suggests that workplaces, health care practitioners, clergy, and social service agencies fail to provide the level of social support needed by battered women to leave violent relationships. Several internalized social beliefs are documented, such as acceptance of partner abuse, that affect battered women's decisions not to leave. In addition, certain psychological processes, such as fear, and victim traits, such as depression, are cited as complicating battered women's efforts to leave. Implications of external and internal inhibiting factors for practice, policy, and research related to battered women in violent relationships are discussed. 488 references and 1 note