Future Directions in Intimate Partner Violence Research: An Intersectionality Framework for Analyzing Women’s Processes of Leaving Abusive Relationships

Abstract

Research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has increasingly focused on women’s processes of leaving abusive partners. This article aims to develop a theoretical understanding grounded in intersectionality of the decision-making process involved in leaving an abusive partner. An intersectionality framework was used to analyze interviews with 25 abused mothers. We theorize that the leaving processes are complex and shaped by intersections of various individual, familial, and sociocultural factors that affect one’s access to resources and decision-making. We make recommendations for future research regarding data collection and analysis to further facilitate the use of intersectionality within IPV research. The implications of this work urge researchers to account for diversity across individuals, their families, and sociocultural environments to have a more socially just stance while working with IPV survivors.