NCJ Number
225226
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 14 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 1465-1475
Date Published
December 2008
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article examines empowerment programs designed to address domestic violence through a literature review and an exploration of empowerment goals and resources for women experiencing domestic violence.
Abstract
Programs designed to address domestic violence do not, in and of themselves, empower women. Rather, women may turn to programs as a resource at various stages of the empowerment process. Women may need support as they set goals. Many empowerment programs provide a space for women to come together and discuss goals with other women experiencing violence, or may serve as a sounding board for women as they explore different goals. At each stage of the process, programs that remain flexible and value self-determination, distributive justice, and collaborative and democratic processes can be a major source of support to women. Programs designed to address domestic violence often name empowerment of women as a major program goal. However, programs do not necessarily define what empowerment for survivors of domestic violence entails. This article presents recommendations for an empowerment process to help guide the development of new programs designed to address domestic violence, reviews existing conceptualizations of empowerment and critiques of the way empowerment, has been understood to date. References