Segmented journeys, fragmented lives: women’s forced migration to escape domestic violence

What is it about?

More than 18,000 women a year, over half accompanied by children, relocate to access support services in England due to domestic violence, in a process of forced internal migration. However, these are generally not simple one-stage journeys from abuse to safety. Previous research has highlighted often difficult emotional journeys of recovery from abuse, but this research also explores the geographical journeys over time and distance. Interviews with women reveal that their journeys have multiple stages which add to the displacement and disruption to their lives. Some stages are forced by the abuser, including when women make multiple moves to try and ensure that they are not tracked down. However, other stages are forced by policies and practices of agencies and authorities requiring women and children to make additional moves and/or placing obstacles in their way. Such unhelpful responses ensure that journeys are longer in time or distance, or that women face additional losses on the way. This article presents details of women’s journeys to illustrate how their experiences were made more fragmented by aspects of policy and practice, and it concludes with suggestions for more effective service and policy responses.

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