Women domestic violence offenders: lessons of violence and survival.
This qualitative study examined female domestic violence offenders via structured interviews with 13 women referred for treatment in batterers' intervention programs in a major metropolitan area. The majority of women were victims of childhood abuse and/or witnessed violence between their parents. Most reported feeling cut-off from their mothers, left their childhood homes before the age of 18, and experienced violence at the hands of a prior partner. Women's motivations for current violence were primarily in self-defense or in retaliation for their partners' physical abuse, and secondarily in response to partner emotional abuse, control tactics, to get attention/be heard, or to express anger. A minority sought to control their partners. Differential treatment considerations and recommendations for women versus men batterers are included.
Seamans
Cindy L
CL
Texas Woman's University, 6904 Meadow Lake Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75214, USA. clseamans@hotmail.com
Rubin
Linda J
LJ
Stabb
Sally D
SD
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology