What abused women think about the service they get from professionals

What is it about?

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is recognised as a serious public health issue that negatively affects the lives of victims during, and after exiting, the relationship. For staff in overstretched criminal justice, health and social care agencies, high rates of DVA place a significant strain on the financial and emotional resources available to them. Drawing on Angie Ash’s (2013) idea of ‘cognitive masks’, and using data collected as part of a larger study, I examine the responses from agencies that frustrated women’s attempts to leave an abusive male partner. Fourteen women, recruited via three specialist support agencies in two English counties and my own personal networks, took part in semi-structured narrative style interviews. Findings suggest that practitioners sometimes ignore important aspects of the case, making the situation more manageable – for themselves. For women, though, this can make it more difficult for them to exit the relationship and remain abuse-free.

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