Abstract
Our work examines when young women who have experienced abuse choose to (not) speak out and what creates the conditions for (not) doing so. We interviewed 17 heterosexual, partnered women aged 18 to 24 who had experienced intimate partner violence. Many linked silence with fear/anxiety and understood speaking out as a threat to their relationship, while others spoke up despite possible consequences and called their partners out. Some experienced fear at the thought of speaking out but did so anyway. This study nuances understandings of silencing in the abuse context and may contribute to youth programming concerning decisions around (not) speaking out.
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