1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« We examine how the problem of conjugal violence and effective responses to it are constructed vis-a-vis ethnoracial minority women and a selection of front-line professionals who regularly interact with battered women. With more complex understandings of conjugal violence from a diversity of social locations, we seek to better understand the workings of gender, class and race in detection, prevention and intervention. » (p. 11)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
« Three focus group sessions were organized with three professional groups being CLSC social workers, police and crown attorneys [and] [f]ace-to-face interviews [n = 37] were conducted with staff and residents at a local battered woman’s shelter. » (p. 27)

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

« This research project explores the question of an over-representation of ethnoracial minorities in the criminal justice system in relation to conjugal violence. While efforts are made to understand and incorporate issues of race/racism, culture, ethnicity, and religion in addressing conjugal violence, the belief that “abuse is abuse” permeated the accounts offered by the participants. The thematic contradiction that appeared through the insights offered by a selection of battered women and professionals directly implicated in the problem of conjugal violence was, on the one hand recognizing facets of one’s social location, and on the other hand, downplaying facets of one’s social location. The preliminary findings of this exploration point to policy recommendations that aim to enhance individual and institutional responses to instances of conjugal violence. » (p. 7) This research also considers the place of the child and the relation to his mother.