Why a Woman Stays
To grow in our understanding of woman abuse, it is important to ask ourselves not why women stay in abusive relationships, but what prevents them from leaving. Women face a myriad of obstacles and barriers when experiencing violence, fleeing from it, as well as following separation. To name a few:
- She may fear for her life, or the lives of her children
- Poverty
- She loves or has an emotional attachment to her partner
- Children
- Cultural/personal beliefs about commitment to relationships
- Lack of affordable and suitable accommodation
- Lack of accessible services
- Employment difficulties
- Lack of affordable childcare
- Societal pressure and judgment including community agencies, family and friends
- Worried about her own, or her partner's immigration status
- Language barriers
- Lack of awareness about her rights, options and resources
- Racism
- Fear of the police
- Legal or marital attachment to her partner
- Economic dependence
- Low self-esteem and lack of confidence in her ability to survive on her own
- Barriers to accessing resources
