Women survivors of intimate partner violence: the difficult transition to independence

Abstract

RESUMENObjetivo: Se pretendió conocer las trayectorias que las mujeres recorren desde la entrada hasta la salida de relaciones con violencia ejercida por su pareja (VPI, por sus siglas en portugués) e identificar las fases del proceso de transición. Método: Para ello, se utilizó un paradigma constructivista, se recurrió al muestreo teórico (grounded theory) y se salvaguardaron las orientaciones éticas de la OMS en materia de investigación sobre violencia domésti-ca. El análisis se centró en las narrativas, obtenidas en entrevistas en profundidad, de 28 mujeres que sobrevivieron a la VPI. Resultados: Muestran que en las trayectorias recorridas por las mujeres se dieron cuestiones de género, (auto)silenciamiento, esperanza y sufrimiento, una serie de aspectos que se mantuvieron una vez terminada la VPI. Conclusión: El proceso de transición está formado por cuatro fases: entrada, en la que se enamora y se queda atada; manutención, en la que se autosilencia, consiente y permanece en la relación; toma de decisión de salir, en la que se enfrenta al problema y lucha por el rescate, y (re)equilibrio, en la que se (re)encuentra con una nueva vida. Este (largo) proceso se vio influido por el querer (y poder) llegar a la autodeterminación. DESCRIPTORESViolencia contra la mujer Esposos Salud de la mujer Género y salud Atención de enfermería ABSTRACTObjective: To understand the trajectories that women go through from entering into to leaving relationships involving intimate partner violence (IPV), and identify the stages of the transition process. Method: We utilized a constructivist paradigm based on grounded theory. We ensured that the ethical guidelines of the World Health Organization for research on domestic violence were followed. The analysis focused on narratives of 28 women survivors of IPV, obtained from in-depth interviews. Results:The results showed that the trajectories experienced by women were marked by gender issues, (self) silencing, hope and suffering, which continued after the end of the IPV. Conclusion: The transition process consists of four stages: entry -falls in love and becomes trapped; maintenance -silences own self, consents and remains in the relationship; decides to leave -faces the problems and struggles to be rescued; (re) balance -(re) finds herself with a new life. This (long) process was developed by wanting (and being able to have) self-determination. DESCRITORES

The Biopsychosocial Sphere of Women Victims of Violence: A Systematic Review

“…Most women omit the violence suffered because there is the hope the abuser's feelings will prevail, thereby overcoming the situation, and the apologies and promises he made will be genuine (2). This mutes the problem and results in a situation where the relationship is maintained, all of which complicates making a decision.…”

“…Nowadays, violence against women is a target of concern for public health in Brazil and worldwide (2,3), since many are victims of violence within the family and, in most situations, that violence is perpetrated by someone they live with every day (2,4,5).…”

Prisoners of suffering: perception of women on violence practiced by intimate partners

“…A survey of Portuguese women found that the process of entry and exit of women in IPV relationships is long, nonlinear and consists of four phases: 1) entry -the moment when the woman falls in love and becomes imprisoned; 2) maintenance -when the woman silences, consents and remains in the relationship; 3) the decision to leave -the moment when she faces the problem and, finally, the 4) of (re) balance -phase in which the woman (re) finds herself with a new life (27) .…”

Isolation of women in situation of violence by intimate partner: a social network condition

“…13 The lack of recognition of violence as a health problem and its depreciation are influenced by the fear of women to reveal the situation that is lived or felt, and by the fear of being misunderstood or humiliated by others, which leads to a progressive isolation and immobilization. 14 In the intersubjective relationship of the woman with the partner, there is lack of exchanges of views. Women have the right to work, to eat, to sleep and rest, and to relate to their families, friends and neighbors, and the right to live and enjoy their own freedom, who have been deprived by the threats from the abuser.…”

“…All these forms of oppression are ways of terrorizing women in situations of violence. 14 Even before the isolation provided by domestic violence, many women want to demonstrate for a certain group of people who visit frequently, and from which they cannot avoid contact, a false appearance of harmony in the home. This occurs when relatives visit the couple and their children, situations when, even in the face of perception or suspicion of any form of violence, the woman denies aggressive events in her family, which is not true.…”