Title: Paths to Escaping Abusive Relationships

Intro: ​ 1 in 3 murders against women are by their intimate partners as suggested by the Freedom

K9 Project. ​Abusive relationships is not a new phenomenon, and unfortunately not a thing of

the past. Many people around the world have grown up with societal norms that normalize

misogyny and place men superior to women which can lead to abuse. ​An abusive

relationship as defined by The National Domestic Violence Hotline is ​ “A pattern of

behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an

intimate relationship.” Most of the time, women do not feel like they can leave their

situation. This could be helped if barriers were to be removed by the government and women

felt like they had options. This is crucial because abuse can happen to anyone and someday,

you or a loved one could be put in the same compromising position.

Working thesis statement: ​Although government-funded programs to help women escape

abusive relationships could be costly, it is vital that the government starts to provide funding

for these programs otherwise many women will be trapped in an abusive cycle.

Annotated Bibliography

Anderson, K. M., Renner, L. M., & Bloom, T. L. (2017). Exploring Protective Strategies among

Rural Women in an Abusive Relationship. ​Issues in Mental Health Nursing,​ ​38(​ 8), 610–618.

https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1080/01612840.2017.1322159

The author conducted a study which gave women strategies to successfully escape abusive

relationships. The intended audience is for intellectuals. While this sources talks about, rural

areas, being a barrier, while another source talked about staying in the home after abuse. This
 informs my topic, because it has to do with escaping from an abusive relationship. According

to this source, about 27% of women in the U.S. (33 million) experience some sort of sexual

violence, stalking or partner violence in their lifetime. Abused women will often make very

complex strategies for safety which are context-based; often needing to consider children,

pets, etc. Often times, being in a rural area is overlooked. Women were given strategies to

escape and all of them used at least 1 strategy given by the researchers of this study to

escape.

Baholo, M., Christofides, N., Wright, A., Sikweyiya, Y., & Shai, N. J. (2015). Women’s

experiences leaving abusive relationships: a shelter-based qualitative study. ​Culture, Health

& Sexuality​, ​17​(5), 638–649.

https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1080/13691058.2014.979881

The author is from South Africa where this study takes place and is intended for an audience

with a higher intelligence level. This source talks about how leaving an intimate partner does

not mean the end of the relationship and how getting more awareness of shelters and social

support help women leave their abusers. This is interesting because it’s very different from

another source that talks about giving women creative strategies to leave their abusers. This

informs my topic because it provides me with a source that supports my argument. South

africa​ has one of the highest intimate partner violence rates in the world. For women, it

becomes a very difficult process to leave an intimate partner. Leaving an intimate partner did

not necessarily mean the end of the relationship. Awareness of shelters and social support

seemed to help women leave their abusive relationships.

Cervantes, M., & Sherman, J. (2019). Falling for the Ones That Were Abusive: Cycles of

Violence in Low-Income Women's Intimate Relationships. ​Journal of Interpersonal

Violence,​ 886260519829771.

https://journals-sagepub-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/doi/full/10.1177/0886260519829771

Diemer, K., Humphreys, C., & Crinall, K. (2017). Safe at home? Housing decisions for women

leaving family violence. ​Australian Journal of Social Issues (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ),​

52​(1), 32–47. ​https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1002/ajs4.5

I am not entirely sure on the credentials of the author nor the authority. The audience is for

intellectuals with a high intelligence level. This source talks about housing options for

Abused women which are essentially escape routes. This is somewhat similar to the study

that takes place in South Africa. this informs my topic on housing options for abused and

battered women. The world view on abusive relationships is for the victim to stay at home

with the abuser, and tell the abuser to just stop abusing. While this seems simple, a violent

and abusive person cannot just stop being abusive. Men who abuse women have serious

psychological issues and most often view women as below them. Because of this, we need to

provide more support for women who chooses to stay home. A study was done and found

that with the abuser removed from the house, women felt safer than if they were relocated.

DeRiviere, L. (2015). Pay Now or Pay Later: An Economic Rationale for State-Funded Helping

Services to Assist Women Leaving an Abusive Relationship. ​Violence & Victims,​ ​30(​ 5),

770–797. ​https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-13-00124

The author who wrote this Source has a Ph.D and is qualified to write on the topic. the

intended audience is for Scholars and intellectuals. The source is nothing like the other
 sources that I have and will prove to be very helpful for my argument. It supports having

some type of government help for Abused women. This is a study that calculates the costs of

women leaving abusive relationships and how to be better prepared financially for them. The

study accounted for six variants of an selection model to make a case of preventative and

healing support. The removal of financial restraints for women as well as supporting their

needs and removing barriers to preventative health care can reduce the costs. The study

found that providing preventative services as well as helping women financially, costs less

that trying to “pick up the pieces” after abuse already took place.

Duffy, L. (2015). Achieving a Sustainable Livelihood After Leaving Intimate Partner Violence:

Challenges and Opportunities. ​Journal of Family Violence,​ ​30​(4), 403–417.

https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1007/s10896-015-9686-x

While I do not know the authority that Lynn Duffy has on this topic, I do know that the

intended audience is for a person with a college level background. The source is much like

the first source that I cited because it explores escape strategies. This source will inform

readers on all the barriers and challenges of leaving an abusive relationship and how escaping

one isn't so easy. This article takes recently single mothers who had left their abusers and

helps them create creative strategies to survive and enhance their children’s lives, as well as

their own. The source focuses on sustainability and utilizing resources. The study found that

even after leaving an abusive relationship, the abuse continued to define them as a person and

and shape their lives. These women are vastly overwhelmed by the costs of raising children

on their own. They found that the goals and aspirations of these women are quite simple: a

home, reliable transportation, safety, peace, and comfortable income.

Farris, E. M., & Holman, M. R. (2015). Public Officials and a “Private” Matter: Attitudes and

Policies in the County Sheriff Office Regarding Violence against Women. ​Social Science

Quarterly,​ ​96(​ 4), 1117–1135.

http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=2b088b2e-04

77-4390-b3d6-3478ef6069c1%40sdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%

3d%3d#AN=1643013&db=eoh

Farris and Holman are both college graduates from different colleges. The intended audience

is for people of similar intelligence and education level. This article is unlike the others

because this is the only one that analyzes the attitudes of the people who are supposed to help

women in these types of situations. While the other articles are mainly about escaping

abusive relationships, this one is about how police officers perceive these women. They tend

to not think of women as equal and minimize their abuse when they’re called to a scene. This

is because many police officials believe inaccurate myths regarding the abuse of women. The

problem with this is that the opinions and perceptions of police officers highly influence

policies made by government officials. This study suggests a strong connection between

attitudes of political leaders and bureaucratic policies.

Forenza, B., & Bermea, A. (2017). An Exploratory Analysis of Unhealthy and Abusive

Relationships for Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses Living in Supportive Housing.

Community Mental Health Journal​, ​53​(6), 679–687.

https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1007/s10597-017-0141-8

Forenza and Bermea are college graduates and work in family studies as well as child

advocacy and policy. The intended audience would be people with a college education or
 higher. This article is unlike unlike all other because it considers mental illness. This study

found that people with mental illnesses are more susceptible to homelessness, victimization

and suffering abuse by an intimate partner. In order to help alleviate these issues, supportive

housing was put in place. This increases positive social interactions as well as a support

system. Because of the level of mental illness, individuals experience difficulty when trying

to engage in a healthy relationship. The article notes that while people with these extreme

mental disabilities are at risk for abusive relationships, they can also exert abusive behaviors.

While the study is inconclusive on how they might develop abusive behaviors, it is clear that

most of these people will experience some sort of abuse.

HALLIGAN, C., KNOX, D., & BRINKLEY, J. (2013). Trapped: Technology as a Barrier to

Leaving an Abusive Relationship. ​College Student Journal​, ​47​(4), 644–648. Retrieved from

http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=9381

3993&site=ehost-live

The authors of the article are college students, writing their student journal. The intended

audience is other college students and possibly professors. This article is unique because it

explains possible barriers to leaving an abusive relationship, whereas the others explain

strategies to leaving an abusive relationship. Often people do not understand why women do

not “just leave”. There are many factors why they may not leave such as a shared child or a

pet. This specific article examines the technological barriers. Because of technology, it has

become hard to terminate relationships. While they may attempt to end an abusive

relationship, their abuser can still text and call them. Even if the victim were to block them

on social media and their phone, a dedicated abuser will go through great length to continue
 communication such as making a new social media profile, getting a new phone number,

making a new email, etc.

Hilton, N., & Ham, E. (2015). Cost-Effectiveness of Electronic Training in Domestic Violence

Risk Assessment: ODARA 101. ​Journal of Interpersonal Violence,​ ​30​(6), 1065-1073.

https://journals-sagepub-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/doi/full/10.1177/0886260514539762

Iyengar, R., & Sabik, L. (2009). The dangerous shortage of domestic violence services. ​Health

Affairs (Project Hope),​ ​28(​ 6), W1052-65.

https://www-healthaffairs-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.28.6.w1052

Lana Wells, Casey Boodt, & Herb Emery. (2012). Preventing Domestic Violence in Alberta: A

Cost Savings Perspective. ​The School of Public Policy Publications,​ ​5​(17), 1-17.

https://doaj.org/article/51023de5c10343c8946a280ee0636b4f

Michaels, H., Neal Kimball, Cynthia, Pressley, Jana, & Pyykkonen, Benjamin. (2016). ​Why She

Doesn't Just Leave: The Interaction of Attachment and Perceived Barriers to Leaving an

Abusive Relationship,​ ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/docview/1809108372?pq-origsite=primo

Natalier, K., Cook, K., & Pitman, T. (2016). Payee mothers’ interactions with the Department of

Human Services—Child Support. ​Family Matters​, (97), 30–40. Retrieved from

http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=1140

20299&site=ehost-live

The authors are Australian college graduates who work in the Department of Human

Services and Health. The intended audience is for people who have the same level of

education or higher or possibly political leaders who can use this study as data for new
 policies. This article is​ ​distinctive because it analyzes single mothers and financial support.

This might seem like it does not fit into my topic, but when a woman in an abusive

relationship shares a child with her abuser, she will need to support her child if she were to

leave and would possibly need outside help. Having children can be a barrier to leaving an

abusive relationship especially if the woman does not work while in the abusive relationship.

In this study, they did phone calls with single mothers and it was found that even though

some women receive an extra $250, that does not compensate for all the other extra costs of

raising and nurturing a child.

Sanders, C. K. (2014). Savings for Survivors: An Individual Development Account Program for

Survivors of Intimate-Partner Violence. ​Journal of Social Service Research,​ ​40(​ 3), 297–312.

https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1080/01488376.2014.893950

While there were no credentials offered by the author, it can be assumed that the author has a

college education because they wrote a full journal, but it cannot be definet. The intended

audience is for college students and graduates who would be able to take and further analyze

the data. This article is similar to the “Pay Now or Pay Later” article in regards to stating that

many victims fall back into the same cycle because there is little to no financial support and

economic resources. The study found that when provided with resources and access to help,

women readily utilize these sources which allow them to increase their financial stability and

potential to leave an abusive relationship. Programs on financial education for domestic

violence survivors are on the rise. These programs enable survivors to save and purchase

necessities to contribute to their financial stability.

United Kingdom: Government increases funding for rape and sexual abuse victims. (2018). ​Asia

News Monitor,​ p. Asia News Monitor, Nov 8, 2018.

https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/docview/2130546164?rfr_id=info%3Axri

%2Fsid%3Aprimo