Information: A key pathway

Women identify a vast array of information that enables them to leave and to establish new lives. Information provides a pathway at all stages of the

leaving process. Its influence could not be emphasised enough by the women in this study:

Available information]…made me realise…I shouldn’t be in that sort of relationship and there were places I could go to, people to talk to (Karen, 49).

[A TV] special on Princess Diana…she was talking to women who were victims of domestic violence…That helped…that someone of such great importance thought it was important to deal with it (June, 32).

There are a number of significant avenues for provision of information,

including: television and radio—including documentaries, interviews, domestic violence campaigns, movies, news, series, and advertisements for services; films and videos (e.g. Once Were Warriors, Burning Beds); famous people condemning domestic violence and the men who perpetrate it and publicly supporting women who experience violence from a male partner; newspaper articles and advertisements for services; magazines, particularly women’s; books and articles (self-help and domestic violence-specific); domestic violence information kits developed and distributed primarily by domestic violence services; pamphlets, posters and STOP cards (purse-sized domestic violence information cards); and Telecom phone books with prominent

domestic violence information listings. Being able to access information readily when at a crisis point, including emergency and domestic violence services’ phone numbers in telephone books was important to women:

When I rang [a domestic violence crisis service]…I said…I loved the big page in the book, that’s how I found you…I want you to keep printing that (Campbell, 43).

Women reported that the significant factors that make information a key pathway include: being readily accessible; increasing knowledge about domestic violence services; increasing access to services and support; enhancing a sense of self and agency; providing insight into the issue of domestic violence; validation; and increasing insight into the position of women in society.

Most women identified the media as a key information pathway, for example through validation and insight into domestic violence, increased knowledge about domestic violence services and facilitating access to support. Specific types of media include television, radio, film and videos, and the commercial print media—magazines, books and newspapers:

Television ads about domestic violence—it seemed to me my husband should have leapt up and said ‘Oh goodness, now I see what I’m doing wrong, I’m so sorry’! (Karen, 49).

In the ‘New Idea’ there was this survey [on domestic violence]. I thought ‘Oh, goodness, it’s got a name’. I didn’t realise I was being abused until I thought I…go into all those categories. It was [helpful] for me because it had a name…I actually thought I was just being a bad wife and not the person I should be (Yvette, 56).

As a key pathway women also identified information specific to domestic violence—articles, information kits and books. This is mostly provided by domestic violence services. The information increased knowledge about and access to domestic violence services, enhanced agency and insight into domestic violence, was validating, and increased understanding of the position of women in society:

There were posters in public places and around the Uni…On the back of toilet doors and everywhere there were little stickers about

violence…They made me face up to the fact…that it wasn’t acceptable (Karen, 49).

Particularly useful is information on domestic violence and services that is readily accessible, and is able to be hidden (for safety reasons). This includes pamphlets, stickers and purse-sized information cards:

When [ex-partner] assaulted me [a police officer] gave me a STOP card…If I’d had one of those [before] I don’t reckon I would have got belted the first time (Campbell, 43).

Despite their brevity, these cards are often effective, enabling women to gain insight into their situation.

5.3.7 Summary

This section has reported the process of leaving and establishing a new life for women who have been assaulted by a male partner. The pathways, barriers and significant factors to leaving and establishing a new life were identified and included formal and informal supports, structural resources, information and beliefs and feelings. Key barriers were constraining beliefs

and feelings, structural barriers and ineffective responses from informal and formal supports to women’s help seeking. The significant factors of key

service barriers were related to: an insufficient focus on the woman’s safety; a disempowering approach, lack of belief in the woman, or lack of respect for her choices and decisions; and lack of awareness of services.

The services identified as key pathways were domestic violence services, counsellors, Centrelink, universities, lawyers and, in smaller numbers, police and general practitioners. Just over half of the women identified domestic violence services and almost half identified counsellors, mostly social workers, as a key pathway. The significant factors of key service pathways were: an empowering approach; a priority focus on the woman’s and the children’s safety; believing the woman; a non-judgemental attitude, with respect for her feelings, choices and decisions; recognition of the man’s responsibility for the violence; a timely response; and practical support. Over a third of women identified friends as a key pathway. The significant factors of informal support pathways were: a non-judgemental attitude; believing the woman’s story; holding the male partner responsible for the violence and abuse; providing emotional and practical support; supporting the woman’s choices; and not being overly directive.

The structural resources which women identified as key pathways to leaving were employment, access to income support, money and /or credit, and access to affordable, appropriate housing and childcare. A lack of access to any of these was identified as key structural barrier. Also identified were two key structural barriers to establishing a new life: (i) The impoverishment of women after leaving; (ii) Women having to leave their homes. The beliefs and feelings which women identified as key pathways included: empowering beliefs about their safety, their children and the violence; a change of feelings for their ex-partner; a sense of self, self-rights and agency; and hope.The concept of hope was identified as a central theme of the study.Access to information on domestic violence and relevant support services was also reported as a key pathway.