How Has Living with Intimate Partner Violence Affected the Work Situation? A Qualitative Study among Abused Women in Norway

Abstract

A qualitative study was conducted among 18 abused women from different parts of Norway to explore what paid work means for women exposed to partner violence and how living with an abusive partner affected their working life. Based on systematic text condensation analyses of their experiences as described in individual and focus group interviews, the study’s findings reveal two major themes. The first is about recovery and survival, and the other about the spillover of problems caused by a violent partner into paid work. Work was important to the women, as it represented time off from violence, contact with others who cared for them, and maintenance of self-esteem and self-confidence. Having their own money provided security and strengthened the belief that they could manage on their own. The spillover of intimate partner violence problems appeared through feelings of fear, shame and guilt at work.

Towards understanding the Nordic paradox: A review of qualitative interview studies on intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) in Sweden

“…Studies have investigated women's experiences with the judicial (Agevall, ; BRÅ, ; Brännvall, ; Bruno, ; Ekström, ; Green, ; Jarnkvist, ; Jarnkvist & Brännström, ), social service (Eriksson & Ulmestig, ; Jarnkvist & Brännström, ; Nikupeteri, ; Ulmestig & Panican, ) and health care systems (Garnweidner‐Holme, Lukasse, Solheim, & Henriksen, ; Gillå et al, ; Häggblom & Möller, ; Leppakoski, Paavilainen, & Astedt‐Kurki, ; Mørk, Andersen, & Taket, ; Örmon & Hörberg, ; Örmon, Torstensson Levander, Sunnqvist, & Bahtsevani, ; Pratt‐Eriksson, Bergbom, & Lyckhage, ). The impact of IPVAW on the health (Örmon, Torstensson Levander, Sunnqvist, & Bahtsevani, ; Scheffer Lindgren & Renck, ), economy (Eriksson & Ulmestig, ; Ulmestig & Eriksson, ), and working life (Alsaker et al, ) of victims has been analyzed. Experiences and narratives of male IPV perpetrators (Boethius, ; Edin & Nilsson, ; Gottzén, ; Gottzén, ; Gottzén, , , ; Håland, Lundgren, Lidén, & Eri, ; Hydén, , , 1995; Jansson, ; Lennéer‐Axelson, [1989]; Lundgren, ) and victims (Hellgren, Andersson, & Burcar Alm, ; Nybergh, Enander, & Krantz, ; Simmons, Brüggemann, & Swahnberg, ) have also been studied, as has the importance of social networks for responses to IPVAW (Hydén, ; Hydén, ; Sandberg, ).…”

“…In the Nordic context, such “gendered shame” (Enander, ) has been tied to falling short of gender expectations by not living up to the equality assumed to be available to Nordic women (Agevall, ; Alsaker et al, ; Brännvall, ), through having “allowed” or “subjected oneself to” IPVAW (Alsaker et al, ; Brännvall, ; Edin, ; Enander, ; Hydén, ). “There is shame in admitting that you are not living in a gender equal relationship” (Agevall, , p. 150), as it can be seen as “a sign of failure that you're in a relationship like that and cannot get out of it” (Alsaker et al, , p. 483). Women self‐identifying as strong and independent have, accordingly, been found to experience greater feelings of shame and guilt for IPVAW exposure (Scheffer Lindgren & Renck, ).…”

“…This phenomenon; the coexistence of high levels of gender equality and of IPVAW, has been termed the Nordic paradox (Gracia & Merlo, ). While several researchers have pointed toward this apparent paradox (Agevall, ; Alsaker, Moen, Baste, & Morken, ; Enander, ; Gottzén, ; Hydén, ; Jones, ), thus far it remains unresolved.…”

Seksuell tvang i ekteskap eller samboerforhold henger sammen med annen type partnervold

“…Psykisk vold, spesielt dominans og isolasjonsvold, er assosiert med seksuell vold hos kvinner som søker hjelp ved norske krisesentre (16). Blant kvinner som søker hjelp på grunn av partnervold, er det tidligere funnet at dominans og isolasjonsvold også er forbundet med handlinger fra partneren som gjør det vanskelig for kvinnene å vaere i arbeid (16,17). Det finnes imidlertid lite kunnskap om ulike typer av vold også er assosiert med seksuell tvang fra partneren blant kvinner generelt i Norge.…”

“…Spørsmålene om handlinger fra partneren som vanskeliggjør lønnet arbeid (tabell 4), er basert på tidligere studier om hvordan vold i naere relasjoner virker inn på arbeid for kvinner som er utsatt for partnervold (16,17). Hvert av spørsmålene kunne besvares med «aldri», «iblant», «ofte» eller «svaert ofte».…”