Copyright by Shanti Joy Kulkarni 2004 The Dissertation Committee for Shanti Joy Kulkarni certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Adolescent mothers negotiating development in the context of interpersonal violence (IPV) and gendered narratives: A qualitative study Committee: Laura Lein, Supervisor Noel Busch, Co-Supervisor Diana DiNitto Ruth McRoy Lynn Rew Adolescent mothers negotiating development in the context of interpersonal violence (IPV) and gendered narratives: A qualitative study by Shanti Joy Kulkarni, B.A., MSSW Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Texas at Austin August 2004 Dedication For Meera Sioban Brennan Acknowledgements I am forever indebted to the 30 young mothers who allowed me to peek into their lives and trusted me to fairly represent their experiences. Without their stories, this dissertation would not have been possible. Witnessing the daily struggles they undertook to improve their own lives and the lives of their children, I was left with a sense of deep admiration and renewed desire to help others understand the unique challenges that low- income, young mothers face. I am equally grateful for the dedicated service providers who assisted me in locating mothers to interview. In particular, Suzanne, Melissa, and Peggy went the extra mile taking time from their busy schedules to facilitate access, introductions, and insights with the mothers. I was fortunate to have had a committee of five accomplished women scholars who supplied the necessary balance of support and challenge to keep me motivated through the long, sometimes lonely, process of completing a dissertation. Laura Lein is exceptional in her intellect and keen ear, as she guided me to make sense of a mountain of data that at times seemed incomprehensible. Noel Busch’s intelligence, generosity, and passion kept me on-task and inspired me to move through the inevitable discouragements along the way. Both of my supervisors conveyed their unwavering confidence in the value of this research and in my ability to do it well. Lynn Rew posed challenging and thought-provoking questions and was scrupulous in her attention to important issues of methodology and ethics. Ruth McRoy continually and compassionately challenged me to examine and articulate the strengths and resiliencies of these young mothers. And Diana DiNitto was remarkable in her ability to notice v subtleties in writing and analysis overlooked by a less discerning eye, while always being true to the bigger picture. In addition, Cal Streeter, the coordinator of my PhD program, has been outstanding advocate consistently helping me with everything from funding to navigating the bureaucracies of a major university. I must also thank the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault for awarding me a Research Seed Grant which covered research expenses during Fall 2003. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of my family and friends. Throughout my academic journey, I have enjoyed the emotional and intellectual companionship of extraordinary friends and colleagues. Richard Longoria, Sheila Adams, Holly Bell, Jessica Montalvo, Beth Bruinsma, Chris Labuski, William Petty, and Carmen Valdez—each of you left your mark on this research and on me— thank you. Heartfelt thanks also to Kristin Johansen-Berg, Carla Kenyon, Rebecca Yerly, Marilyn Wise, Craig Rasmussen, and Diane Molloy just for being there when I needed you. I am grateful to my parents, Beth and Sharad Kulkarni, whose unabashed pride in their daughter is at turns both embarrassing and exhilarating. They always believed I would succeed in whatever endeavor was chosen and have been unselfishly supportive in every imaginable way. I am also grateful for the love and support of my aunt and uncle, Drs. Janet and Don Stewart. They take unique pleasure in welcoming a new PhD into the family. David, Melissa, and Mathew Kulkarni have been a constant presence and reminder of how much family matters. Finally, my greatest joy and blessing is Meera, who knows my utmost pride will always come from being her mother. vi Adolescent mothers negotiating development in the context of interpersonal violence (IPV) and gendered narratives: A qualitative study Publication No._____________ Shanti Joy Kulkarni, PhD The University of Texas at Austin, 2004 Supervisor(s): Laura Lein and Noel Busch Adolescent mothers experience interpersonal violence (IPV) at higher rates than almost any other population in our country. Within the scant body of existing research, few studies have been grounded in the lived experiences of young mothers. These emic perspectives are critical to the development of effective and culturally appropriate policies and services. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 30 adolescent mothers. Twenty-four of the 30 interviewed mothers disclosed IPV during the interview process. Interview transcriptions were thematically coded and analyzed with matrices and tables. Analyses focused on the how young mothers’ important relationships were impacted by IPV. Four important themes about the impact of IPV on relationships emerged from the analysis. First, some mothers’ experiences of IPV resulted in lingering depressive and traumatic symptoms. Secondly, IPV made it difficult to trust others. Thirdly, some adolescents described experiences of adultification within their families of origin. And finally, some young mothers experienced the impact vii of IPV on their relationships when subsequent family estrangement left them without access to vital social support. In addition, nurturing and protective relationships with adults seemed to buffer or ameliorate the effects of IPV. Romance narratives provided a template through which many young mothers experienced their intimate partner relationships. As some mothers centered their lives around their romantic relationships, they failed to notice harbingers of their boyfriends’ abuse. Sexual stereotypes colluded with romance narratives pressuring adolescent mothers to stay with their partners, bottom particularly when they were connected by children. Some young mothers eventually chose to leave boyfriends behind to focus on their own futures. A few mothers resisted traditional romance narratives and sexual stereotypes, postponing serious relationships to concentrate on their educational and career goals. Social workers encounter adolescent mothers in a variety of practice settings and need to ground their interventions in empathy and a sound knowledge base. Programs for adolescent mothers must reflect the complex and diverse needs of this population. Social workers should also advocate for policies that consider adolescent mothers’ safety as they strive to become healthy, happy, and productive adults. viii Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................... xi List of Figures................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Literature Review............................................................................. 10 Introduction.............................................................................................. 10 Young mothers as a vulnerable population................................................ 11 Prevalence of interpersonal violence (IPV) in samples of young mothers.. 13 Child maltreatment ................................................................................... 15 Witnessing domestic violence................................................................... 17 Dating violence......................................................................................... 20 Trauma and IPV ....................................................................................... 21 Adolescent development........................................................................... 24 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 26 Chapter 3: Methods ........................................................................................... 28 Research questions ................................................................................... 28 Rationale for selection of methods............................................................ 30 Overview of Methods ............................................................................... 33 Data analysis ............................................................................................ 43 Summary.................................................................................................. 60 Chapter 4: IPV and Young Mothers’ Relationships............................................ 62 Introduction.............................................................................................. 62 Depressed and traumatized ....................................................................... 63 Struggling to trust..................................................................................... 68 Adultification ........................................................................................... 75 Family estrangement................................................................................