Mothering in the context of domestic violence

• Autores: Simon Lapierre
• Localización: The Routledge International Handbook of Domestic Violence and Abuse / John Devaney (ed. lit.), Caroline Bradbury Jones (ed. lit.), Rebecca J. Macy (ed. lit.), Carolina Överlien (ed. lit.), Stephanie Holt (ed. lit.), 2021, ISBN 9780367686253, pág. 462
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This chapter focuses on mothering and domestic violence. Since the 1990s, concerns regarding abused women’s mothering have been raised alongside concerns regarding the situation of children living with domestic violence. Research, policies and practices in this area have focused on women’s ability (or inability) to protect and care for their children, and have generally failed to address their complex experiences as mothers in such circumstances. In contrast, a growing number of feminist scholars have investigated women’s experiences as mothers in the context of domestic violence, arguing that these experiences need to be understood in relation to both the particular conditions created by men’s violence and the institution of motherhood. Drawing primarily upon the work of feminist scholars in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, this chapter looks at the main themes emerging in the literature. First, it considers domestic violence as an attack on women’s mothering and mother-child relationships, demonstrating that some perpetrators use strategies that specifically target their partners’ mothering and relationships with their children. It also focuses on abused women’s experiences as mothers, and accounts for the difficulties and challenges women face, as well as the multiple strategies they develop in order to protect and care for their children. Self-blame and mother-blame also emerge as significant themes in the literature. Finally, this chapter examines how abused women’s mothering has been addressed in policies and practices in the domestic violence sector, child protection services and family courts.