A Glimpse Into the World of Battered Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Women in Israel: A Follow-Up Study on Women Who Resided in a Shelter

Abstract

Using a mixed-methods approach to content analysis, we interviewed 88 ultra-Orthodox Jewish women who had endured spousal abuse and chose to find refuge in the only shelter in Israel specifically designated for religious women. All had experienced some type of spousal abuse for several years. The majority summarized the period they spent in the shelter in positive terms and reported that they had developed personal strength and that their social and family relationships had improved. About half of them described the postshelter period in positive terms, while the rest described it in both positive and negative terms or in negative terms only. Negative themes were mostly related to the women's economic situation and to emotional and behavioral problems of their children. Further research is required to expand existing knowledge regarding this population.