Citation

Wilcox P. Womens Stud. Int. Forum 2000; 23(1): 35-47.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0277-5395(99)00093-X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Attention to domestic violence in developed countries has focused on agency responses. However, domestic violence is a widespread and long-term problem which agencies alone will be unable to resolve. This article draws on doctoral research, combining a community study with ethnographic research, to explore the experiences of 20 white working-class women who left violent relationships. Empirically, the research shows that systematic continued violence was suffered by one third of the women, for which effective police intervention is essential. However, also revealed was the paucity of women's informal support and support networks. Women lacked resources along many dimensions, to the extent that they formed a distinct socially excluded group. The conclusion drawn is that it is now vital to think about ways of enhancing informal support for women experiencing and/or leaving domestic violence and one way explored in this study was through the networking of women's friendships.