Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/11386
Record ID: 7eacb946-5883-4cd3-a2cc-6e83f1b3a1ec
Full metadata record
DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorFish, Ellenen
dc.contributor.authorMacDonald, Helenen
dc.contributor.authorMcKenzie, Mandyen
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-30T22:47:17Z-
dc.date.available2022-06-30T22:47:17Z-
dc.date.issued2009en
dc.identifier.citationNo. 7en
dc.identifier.issn1441-0206en
dc.identifier.urihttps://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/11386-
dc.format50 p.en
dc.languageenen
dc.publisherDomestic Violence & Incest Resource Centre, Brunswicken
dc.relation.isversionofNo. 7en
dc.subjectPost-separation violenceen
dc.subjectImpact on children and young peopleen
dc.subjectParentingen
dc.subjectRepresentations of womenen
dc.subjectPregnancyen
dc.subjectLegal issuesen
dc.subjectFamily lawen
dc.title'Bad mothers and invisible fathers' : parenting in the context of domestic violenceDiscussion paper / Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre, Melbourneen
dc.typeNon-Fictionen
dc.identifier.catalogid27en
dc.identifier.urlhttp://www.dvrcv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/DVRCV_DP7.pdfen
dc.subject.keywordBooken
dc.subject.keywordInvalid URLen
dc.subject.keywordVictoriaen
dc.subject.keywordnew_recorden
dc.description.notesTo order a copy of this paper <a href = "http://www.dvirc.org.au/PublicationsHub/FLIER%20DiscPaper7.pdf">download this order form.</a><br/ >General Overview: This Australian discussion paper explores the way that violent men, as part of their abuse, attack women's parenting. The authors, based at the Victorian Domestic Violence Resource Centre, explore social expectations of mothers and fathers to inform our perceptions of these roles in a context of domestic violence. The paper sets out to identify practice that better supports mothers affected by domestic violence.<br/ ><br/ >Discussion: The authors interrogate societal perceptions of motherhood and how these inform our perceptions of mother's experiencing domestic violence. They argue that mothers are considered accountable for the entirely of their children's welfare; accordingly in cases of domestic violence women tend to be condemned as 'bad mothers' if their children are harmed, even when they did not perpetuate the harm.<br/ ><br/ >Domestically violent fathers often exploit the demands the institution of motherhood places on women. To exert further power and control over the victim they may: control decisions around her reproduction; create dependency through pregnancy; control the domestic environment; and engage in mother-blaming. Perpetrators may undermine the mother-child relationship, placing her in a position where she cannot adequately connect with her children, where children may despise and resent her.<br/ ><br/ >The authors argue that violent fathers are not held accountable for the effects their abuse has on children. Fathers who are violent towards their partner can still be perceived by others as 'good' fathers or, if criticised, are considered 'absent' or 'invisible', rather than abusive towards their children.<br/ ><br/ >Even if domestic violence is considered harmful to children, upon termination of the relationship fathers' opportunity to care for their children is prioritised by legal and social structures. Domestically violent men often use family law and child protection systems to paint women as poor, inadequate or failed mothers.<br/ ><br/ >The authors argue for sharing the responsibility of children's welfare between mothers and fathers, and valuing and supporting mothers in domestic violence contexts. The authors recommend that good parenting, rather than good mothering, be prioritised in order that responsibility to children may be evenly distributed. They further contend that supporting those mothering in adverse, traumatic and stressful circumstances will maximise children's wellbeing.en
dc.identifier.sourceDiscussion paperen
dc.date.entered2009-12-10en
dc.publisher.placeVic.en
dc.description.physicaldescription50 p.en
Appears in Collections:Books

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat  
Bad-mothers-and-invisible-fathers-full-paper.pdfBad-mothers-and-invisible-fathers-full-paper.pdf175.16 kBAdobe PDFThumbnail
View/Open


Items in ANROWS library are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Google Media

Google ScholarTM

Who's citing