UNIVERSITY of CALGARY the Construction of Intimate Partner
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UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY The Construction of Intimate Partner Woman Abuse in Alberta’s Child Protection Policy and the Impact on Abused Mothers and their Children by Kendra L. Nixon A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK CALGARY, ALBERTA JANUARY 2009 © Kendra L. Nixon 2009 UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES The undersigned certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for acceptance, a thesis entitled “The Construction of Intimate Partner Woman Abuse in Alberta’s Child Protection Policy and the Impact on Abused Mothers and their Children” submitted by Kendra L. Nixon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ___________________________________________________ Supervisor, Dr. Leslie M. Tutty, Faculty of Social Work ___________________________________________________ Dr. Jacqueline S. Ismael, Faculty of Social Work ___________________________________________________ Dr. Wilfreda E. Thurston, Community Health Sciences ___________________________________________________ Dr. Anne Hughson, Community Rehabilitation and Dis. Studies ___________________________________________________ Dr. David Este, Faculty of Social Work ___________________________________________________ External Examiner, Dr. Susan Strega, University of Victoria _________________ Date ii Abstract Although women are most frequently the direct victims of intimate partner violence, there is growing evidence that children exposed to intimate partner woman abuse may also be affected. The increased attention to children’s exposure has prompted child protection authorities to make changes to their policies, in an attempt to protect children. Despite the well-intentioned nature of these efforts, they have been criticized for producing negative consequences, such as, re-victimizing battered women, ignoring abusive men, and failing to protect children. Few studies have assessed the impact of these policy changes, especially from the standpoint of abused mothers. This study explores how children’s exposure to intimate partner woman abuse has been represented within Alberta child protection policy and the impact on abused mothers and their children. An extensive review of government documents on family violence and children’s exposure reveals that Alberta represents children’s exposure in problematic ways, including considering all children who witness violence as suffering serious and long-lasting harm. Additionally, the Alberta government represents intimate partner woman abuse within a degendered discourse of family violence, in which structural factors are ignored. The study also examines the consequences of such policy representations on mothers and their children through in-depth interviews with 13 mothers who had contact with child protection because of their abuse by intimate partners. Most of the women considered the involvement to be unhelpful, intrusive, and punitive, as they were often treated as bad mothers who could not protect their children. Many experienced tremendous feelings of grief and loss and felt that they had lost their identity as mothers, especially after their children were apprehended. Participants experienced significant levels of stress and anxiety, which iii frequently resulted in serious health problems. Finally, the women reported that child protection involvement, most notably, the apprehension of their children, had a damaging impact on their children. To conclude the study, I offer an alternative representation that takes a narrower view of children’s exposure as well as a gendered view of intimate partner violence. It is hoped that this alternative representation offers a more useful way of understanding children’s exposure to intimate partner woman abuse without punishing women for the behaviours of violent men. iv Acknowledgements I am indebted to the YWCA Sheriff King Home, Sonshine Community Services, and the Women’s Centre of Calgary for assisting me in recruiting women through their organizations. I would like to thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Alberta Centre for Child, Family, and Community Research (ACCFCR) for their generous financial support. I am especially grateful for my doctoral committee. My deepest appreciation and gratitude goes to my doctoral supervisor, Dr. Leslie Tutty, for her continuous support and encouragement throughout my graduate career and during the completion of this study. Dr. Tutty’s genuine interest and appreciation for this study, and in the area of violence against women, in general, was invaluable. I would also like to thank Drs. Jacqueline Ismael and Wilfreda (Billie) Thurston for reviewing my work and providing comments and questions for further examination. It is their passion towards social justice that inspires me to challenge the existing dominant ideologies and values that oppress the most marginalized groups in our society. Lastly, but certainly not least, I am appreciative of my colleagues, family, and friends (near and far!) who continued to provide their much needed support and encouragement throughout this long, and often tiresome, process. I would like to give special thanks to my partner, Calvin Shewchuk, for his constant patience, support, and encouragement. To my two beautiful boys, Nathaniel and Liam – thank you both for your patience, understanding, and for being the best kind of distraction! v Dedication I dedicate this study to the 13 women who shared their stories with me. This study could not have happened without the input and support of these women who took the time and the energy to talk about their experiences with intimate partner woman abuse and the Alberta child protection system. For most of these women, participating in the study was often difficult and painful. Their strong desires to help other abused mothers and their children were commonly given as the reason that they chose to take part in the study. I am tremendously grateful for their time, ideas, and courage. My hope is that child protection policymakers in Alberta and beyond will learn from the experiences of these women and the children that they represent. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval Page...............................................................................................................ii Abstract.........................................................................................................................iii Preface...........................................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................v Table of Contents..........................................................................................................vi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION...........................................................................1 Background.......................................................................................................2 Overview of the Thesis .....................................................................................4 Adopting a Gender Specific Conceptualization of Intimate Partner Violence.5 CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUALIZING CHILDREN’S EXPOSURE TO INTIMATE PARTNER WOMAN ABUSE: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE..............................................................................................................7 The Effects of Children’s Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence ...................7 Limitations of the Research on Children’s Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence ............................................................................................................9 Women’s Parenting in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence ....................12 An Overview of Child Protection Work and Intimate Partner Violence..........17 Child Protection Policy and Intimate Partner Violence....................................19 Gaps in the Research on the Child Protection Response to Intimate Partner Violence ............................................................................................................33 The Gendered Nature of Intimate Partner Violence .........................................35 Women and Family Policy................................................................................40 Summary...........................................................................................................42 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY .....................................................................44 Theoretical Framework.....................................................................................45 Research Design................................................................................................50 Case Study Methodology......................................................................50 Limitations and Challenges of Case Study Methodology.....................57 The Case or Unit of Analysis................................................................61 Data Collection.................................................................................................63 Data Analysis and Interpretation ......................................................................67 Quality and Verification ...................................................................................72 Ethics ...............................................................................................................75