Still blaming the victim of intimate partner violence? Women’s narratives of victim desistance and redemption when seeking support

Abstract

This article examines the experiences of 28 victim-survivors of severe intimate partner violence (IPV) as they attempt to rebuild their lives and seek support. Through a qualitative analysis, the study finds that victim-survivors frequently encounter victim-blaming attitudes from both informal and formal support networks. Drawing on criminological and victimological theories, the study explores how societal expectations of ‘ideal victims’—those seen as innocent and passive—affect perceptions of IPV survivors. Many women felt they had to ‘redeem’ themselves to be deemed worthy of empathy and support, often expected to demonstrate their ‘desistance’ from abuse by permanently leaving their abuser. The research highlights the role of social stigma in shaping responses to IPV and underscores the ongoing need for public education and systemic reform to support victim-survivors effectively.