Mothers, Domestic Violence, and Child Protection: The UK Response
Stacey Stewart1, Elaine Arnull2
1Hawthorn Building, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.
Violence Against Women
|September 2, 2022
Summary
Mothers experiencing domestic abuse in the UK are blamed by social workers and given ultimatums. This study reveals these harmful practices persist, calling for significant changes in social work interventions for victim support.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Mothers experiencing domestic abuse are frequently blamed for their child's exposure to violence.
- Social work interventions often place responsibility on mothers, leading to negative outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how mothers with violent partners experience social work interventions in the UK.
- To identify persistent issues in social work practice regarding domestic abuse survivors.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving interviews with 19 mothers in England and Wales.
- Deductive thematic analysis of interview data.
Main Results:
- Mothers reported feeling blamed and responsibilized for the domestic abuse they and their children experienced.
- Social workers issued 'leave ultimatums,' pressuring mothers to leave abusive partners.
Conclusions:
- Findings echo earlier research, indicating a lack of progress in social work practice.
- Urgent reform is needed in social work interventions to better support mothers experiencing domestic abuse.
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