Information for Professionals
It is not the job of professionals to rescue an abused woman. You cannot make her disclose abuse nor can you make her leave her abusive partner. What you can offer her is the understanding, support and information that will allow her to make her own informed choices when she is ready to do so.
Of course, one of the greatest frustrations experienced by all professionals is the inability to have a direct impact on an abused women's decision to leave an abusive partner. This frustration is normal, and is experienced by all who try to assist: social workers, police officers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, and shelter workers.
Knowing about the dynamics of domestic violence against women can go a long way in reducing this frustration.
Professionals can play a major role in assisting abused women. Once they are educated about the issue of partner abuse and family violence and the possible indicators, they will:
- Be in a better position to understand the motivations and actions of their patients;
- Be more confident identifying a woman who has been abused by her partner;
- Feel more comfortable approaching a woman about the subject of partner abuse; and
- Be more equipped to refer a victim of abuse to community agencies for crisis and long term support to meet their immediate needs upon disclosure of abuse.
Family violence is an increasing problem in our society. Professionals have long been concerned with the level of family violence in our communities. Even witnessing violence can leave emotional scars as deep as being the recipient of violence.
In this social context, abused women deserve a special focus. The abused women themselves are of course the primary victims. But the secondary victims are their children. Boys who witness their mothers being abused are more likely to commit acts of violence themselves. Girls who observe domestic violence are more likely to tolerate abusive partners as adults, thus subjecting another generation to the same sad dynamics.
So, how do we intervene? The answer is related to questions that colleagues and I have often asked ourselves and each other: Why do abused women tolerate the abuse for so long before seeking help? And why, even after receiving help, do they so often return to their abusive partners?
Please read the various articles for professionals on the tabs on the left side.
