Sheltering the Battered Woman (From Identification and Treatment of Spouse Abuse, P 61-67, 1980, Abraham Lurie and Elizabeth B Quitkin, eds. See NCJ-101239)

• NCJ Number: 101244
• Author(s): V Middleton-Jeter
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-101239.

Annotation

Based on experiences in a New York City shelter for battered women, this paper describes the type of victims who come to the shelter, their reasons for coming, and the services they receive.

Abstract

Two types of victims tend to come to the shelter: those trapped in an abusive relationship due to economic and emotional dependence, but having the inner resources to escape it, and those who come to the shelter for a temporary respite from an abusive relationship to which they return. Among the reasons women come to the shelter are lack of financial resources, no other reliable support systems, the depletion of emotional and physical strength to cope with the abuse, fear of being killed, and the need for supportive services while terminating the relationship. The shelter uses a task-centered, problemsolving model to address family needs through individual, group, and family counseling. The overall goal is to improve clients' general functioning. The model assumes that self-esteem improves when the client completes tasks and copes with interpersonal relationships. Some of the issues addressed are ambivalence about the family situation, poverty, relationships, rehousing, prevention of abuse, employment, health, protection from the batterer, and a host of daily problems. A principal concern of shelter staff is becoming the target for the batterer's violence and developing appropriate protective skills. 5 references.