Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Integrated Article

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Nursing

Supervisor

Ford-Gilboe, M.

Abstract

Being a mother is an important part of many women’s identities with consequences for women and children and shaping women’s priorities and actions when living in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, understanding the nature of women’s priorities, the actions women take to address these priorities, and the factors shaping those actions remains limited. Drawing on an intersectional feminist lens, this dissertation explored the nature of women’s priorities, what shapes them and how women mothering in the context of IPV go about living out what is important to them. To situate these issues broadly within the discipline of Nursing, a feminist critique of the nursing literature was conducted to identify dominant assumptions about mothering in the context of IPV and to consider the extent to which these might be harmful. Interpretive description drawing on a feminist intersectional lens was used to guide dialogic qualitative interviews with a sample of 20 women who were mothers identified from the 462 who participated in a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of the ICAN Plan for Safety online safety and health intervention with women who had experienced IPV. Interviews were analyzed using principles of thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006).

Findings of this study revealed that women’s top priorities were the well-being of their children, their own health, and creating stability related to housing, work/employment, and finances. Women’s narratives reflected the implications of coercive control, structural conditions marginalizing women, and assumptions about mothers and mothering, for women, their priorities and actions. These factors played a significant role in creating and shaping, priorities, demands and tensions among them. These demands and tensions shaped women’s priorities and actions to address them. Themes identified related to women’s priorities include: It’s all about the kids, My safety…totally disregarded and I have to take care of him. Themes related to women’s actions include It’s all up to me, Can I do it all?, and Maternal guilt, shame and blame.

This study revealed women’s priorities were complex and not choices. For many women, a confluence of factors created tensions, shaping priorities and actions taken. Women engaged in everyday acts of resistance in response to the factors shaping their experiences. A matricentric, feminist, equity-oriented approach could help address the impact of mothering, associated expectations and structural inequities on women.

Summary for Lay Audience

Being a mother is an important part of many women’s identities with consequences for women and children and shaping women’s priorities and actions when living through intimate partner violence (IPV). However, our understanding of the nature of women’s priorities and women’s actions on priorities and the factors shaping those actions remains limited.

This dissertation explored the nature of women’s priorities, what shapes them and how women mothering through IPV go about living out what is important to them. Nursing literature was examined to determine how mothering in the context of IPV was conceptualized. Interviews were also completed with 20 women who were separating from an abusive partner and also mothering minor children; these women were taking part in a study testing the effectiveness of an online safety and health intervention called ICAN Plan for Safety.

Information gathered from interviews revealed that women’s top priorities were the well-being of their children, their own health, and creating stability related to housing, work/employment, and finances. Women spoke of fear and intimidation they experienced due to assault, threats, and intimidation; difficulties participating fully and having fair access to the resources in society needed to meet personal needs and live well; and societal assumptions about mothers and mothering were affecting their priorities and actions. These factors played a big part in creating and shaping, priorities and demands, and tensions among them for women as well as the actions women took to address them. Three themes were identified related to women’s priorities: It’s all about the kids, My safety…totally disregarded and I have to take care of him. Themes related to women’s actions include: It’s all up to me, Can I do it all? and Maternal guilt, shame and blame.

This study revealed women’s priorities were complex and not a choice. For many women, many factors combined creating tensions, shaping priorities and actions taken. Women engage in everyday acts of resistance in response to these factors shaping their experiences. Using an approach that recognizes how gender and fair access to the resources in society needed to meet personal needs and live well could help address the impact of mothering, associated expectations and structural inequities on women.

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