Abusive Relationships Research Articles

Citizenisation in the aftermath of domestic violence: the role of family, community and social networks

Domestic violence impedes women’s exercise of full participatory citizenship. This article explicates the role of family, community and social networks in the aftermath of an abusive relationship as both an indicator of intimate citizenship as an achieved status and as a facilitator of the process of citizenisation in the private and public spheres. Based on life history interviews with 26 South Asian women in the UK, the findings reveal the myriad ways in which denial of citizenship continues long after, and in part due to, the end of the abusive relationship, and outline women’s efforts to regain a sense of identity, belongingness and membership within their intimate, family and community lives. In doing so, this article advances conceptual understandings of the lived practice of citizenship. It also problematises the binary construction of ‘victims’ versus ‘survivors’, which is premised on a linear and successful journey towards citizenisation following the end of the abusive relationship.

Adolescent Relationship Abuse Prevention in Pediatric Primary Care: Provider, Adolescent, and Parent Perspectives.

Adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) is associated with myriad negative health outcomes. Pediatric primary care presents an opportunity to engage adolescents and parents, who can be protective against ARA, in ARA prevention; however, no family-focused, health care-based ARA interventions exist. The purpose of this study is to explore the perspectives of adolescents, parents, and health care providers (HCPs) on incorporating ARA prevention into primary care, including 1) current discussions around ARA, 2) how to best include ARA prevention education, and 3) how to address implementation barriers. We conducted individual, semi-structured interviews with HCPs, adolescents ages 11 to 15, and parents recruited through convenience sampling. Transcripts were individually coded by 4 study team members (with every third transcript co-coded to assess discrepancies) and analyzed via thematic analysis. Participants identified a need for pediatric HCPs to involve younger adolescents and parents in universal, inclusive ARA prevention and noted that HCPs require training, techniques, and resources around ARA. Participants acknowledged multilevel barriers to implementing primary care-based ARA prevention. They suggested that ARA education be intentionally integrated into HCP and clinic workflows and recommended strategies to garner adolescent and parent buy-in to facilitate ARA-focused conversations. Pediatric primary care is a promising environment to involve parents and adolescents in universal ARA-prevention. Future research should contextualize these results with larger samples across multiple practice settings and integrate relevant partners in the development and evaluation of evidenced-based ARA prevention for pediatric primary care.

Women with disabilities’ experiences of intimate partner violence: a qualitative study from Sweden

BackgroundIntimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a prevalent form of gender-based violence affecting one in three women globally. It is also a preventable cause of ill-health, disability, and death. Current research suggests that women with disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing violence throughout their lifetime. They are almost twice as likely to experience violence compared to men with disabilities or men and women without disabilities. Additionally, they experience higher rates of all types of violence. This increased vulnerability may be due to factors related to disability such as dependence on others for support, mistrust, and social and physical isolation. Although there is existing research on IPV against women in general, there is limited knowledge on IPV against women with disabilities. To address this gap in knowledge, this study aimed to explore women with disabilities’ perceptions and experiences of being victims/survivors of IPV in Sweden.MethodsThis was a qualitative study conducted through in-depth interviews with eleven women with disabilities. The participants were aged eighteen years upwards. The collected data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis with a constructivist epistemological standpoint.ResultsWe developed four themes. Theme one: “multiple abuse by multiple abusers, over time,” describes the participants’ experiences of various types of violence from different perpetrators for prolonged periods. Theme two: “psychological abuse—harmful, but neglected and difficult to prove,” explains how women with disabilities’ perceive psychological abuse as harmful, but not given the same level of seriousness as physical violence. It also expresses the difficulties they encountered in providing tangible evidence to prove instances of psychological abuse. Theme three: “abuse does not end with separation,” highlights how abuse can continue beyond separation/divorce. Theme four: “surviving abusive relationships” describes the different and evolving ways the participants used to navigate their abusive relationships.ConclusionsWomen with disabilities face all forms of abuse. They find it challenging to prove psychological abuse, and the system is inadequate in addressing its harm. The abuse also continues after separation or divorce. The support system should consider the needs of women with disabilities who experience violence, both during and after the abusive relationship. Service providers should be better equipped to detect and handle all types of IPV, especially psychological abuse.

How the Invisible Becomes Visible: The Lived Experience of Economic Abuse in Heterosexual Relationships.

The invisible nature of economic abuse contributes to its pervasiveness. Through interviews with 14 women survivors in Canada, this study identifies the ways in which economic abuse is (in)visible to survivors. There were three major themes: "Constructing and maintaining the fairy-tale" describes how gender roles and ideas of love concealed abuse. "The normalization of financial problems in heterosexual relationships" examines how disagreements about money were normalized in ways that masked abuse. "Recognizing economic abuse" describes how breaking away from expectations was critical to recognition. These findings can aid in improving support to help survivors identify, avoid, and escape economic abuse.

Understanding the Dynamics of Domestic Violence against Women in Pakistan: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

This comprehensive study delves into the multifaceted dynamics of domestic violence against women in Pakistan, examining its causes, consequences, and potential solutions. The research underscores the significance of legal reforms to provide survivors with robust protections and avenues for seeking justice. It emphasizes the crucial role of education and awareness campaigns in reshaping societal norms and fostering healthy relationships. The study highlights the pivotal importance of support systems, including shelters, crisis hotlines, counselling, and legal aid, in facilitating survivors' escape from abusive situations and aiding in their recovery. Economic empowerment programs emerge as a vital component to reduce barriers that often keep survivors tethered to abusive relationships. By sensitizing law enforcement and establishing supportive networks, this study provides a comprehensive roadmap for creating safer environments for survivors and working towards the complete eradication of domestic violence.

'I'm not the mother I wanted to be': Understanding the increased responsibility, decreased control, and double level of intentionality, experienced by abused mothers.

A paucity of research has been conducted within South Africa on abused women's experiences of motherhood, even though abused women tend to be at increased risk of negative physical and mental health difficulties, which can interfere with their ability to take care of themselves and their children. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore women's experiences of mothering in the context of an abusive relationship. Data was collected via individual, telephonic, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 16 mothers from three South African provinces, and analyzed according to the principles of grounded theory. Our findings highlight the mothers' experiences of: a simultaneous increased sense of responsibility with regards to their children and a loss of control over their mothering; as well as experiencing abuse aimed at either the mother or the child, which is simultaneously meant to affect the other; and lastly, mothers' assessing themselves negatively through normative paradigms of 'good mothering', regardless that they often mother in the best way they know how to, given challenging circumstances. Therefore, this study highlights that the motherhood institution continues to create 'good mothering' benchmarks against which women themselves evaluate their mothering, often leading to feelings of inadequacy. Our findings also emphasize that the environment created by men's abuse is in conflict with the great expectations placed upon mothers in abusive relationships. Thus, mothers may experience huge pressure, which may lead to feelings of failure, self-blame, and guilt. This study has demonstrated that the abuse mothers' encounter adversely impacted on their mothering. We therefore emphasize the need to better understand how mothering is influenced by and responsive to violence. This is important as understanding abused women's experiences can assist us to further develop appropriate support mechanisms needed to ensure minimal impact on both women and their children.

Primary Versus Secondary Prevention Effects of a Gender-Transformative Sexual Violence Prevention Program Among Male Youth: A Planned Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Engaging adolescent males is a promising violence prevention strategy. This study explored primary versus secondary prevention effects of a gender-transformative program (i.e., Manhood 2.0) versus job-readiness training on multiple forms of violence perpetration. Adolescent males, ages 13 to 19 years, were recruited through youth-serving organizations in Pittsburgh, PA, between July 27, 2015, and June 5, 2017, to participate in an unblinded community-based cluster-randomized trial in 20 neighborhoods. The intervention curriculum, Manhood 2.0, focused on challenging norms that foster gender-based violence and building bystander skills. The control program was job-readiness training. We completed a planned secondary analysis of surveys from baseline and 9 months post intervention (follow-up), wherein we stratified participants based on any sexual violence/adolescent relationship abuse (SV/ARA) at baseline and examined risk of perpetration of SV/ARA, incapacitated sex, sexual harassment, cyber sexual abuse, peer violence, bullying, and homophobic teasing at follow-up. Among 866 participants, mean age was 15.6 years, 70% identified as Black, 6% as Hispanic, and 6% as multiracial. In both the Manhood 2.0 intervention group and job-readiness control groups, youth who reported SV/ARA at baseline were significantly more likely to report any form of SV/ARA, incapacitated sex, sexual harassment, cyber sexual abuse, bullying, and homophobic teasing at follow-up. Among participants who reported no SV/ARA perpetration at baseline, participating in the Manhood 2.0 intervention program was associated with increased risk of SV/ARA at follow-up compared to participating in the job-readiness control program. Among participants who reported SV/ARA perpetration at baseline, participating in the Manhood 2.0 intervention group was associated with lower risk of peer violence at follow-up. Synergizing gender-transformative approaches with job-readiness training may offer opportunities for crosscutting prevention programming to address multiple forms of violence.

Human-Horse Relationships, Horse Welfare, and Abuse in Mexico: A Social Representation Approach

Abstract Drawing on social representation theory, this study explored horse handlers’ understandings of “good” treatment, abuse, and human-horse relationships in tourism, leisure, and sport events in Mexico to examine the ways in which attitudes toward horse welfare are shaped by both national and cultural discourses and wider norms of the global equestrian community. Based on in-depth interviews, the study revealed that national and subcultural norms of the equestrian social world shape people’s attitudes to what is deemed “good treatment” and what is “abuse.” It suggests the need to understand better how cultural factors shape different people’s attitudes to those standards and look for ways to safeguard horse welfare while valuing local heritage.

Intimate Partner Violence Directed at Men: Experiences of Violence, Help-seeking, and Potential Gender Role Conflict Among Portuguese Men

Recent research has shed light on how men in same-sex and different-sex relationships experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), and how it may contribute to their Gender Role Conflict (GRC), through which men face a dissonance with their gender roles. However, knowledge on these topics is still lacking. We aim to better understand men’s experiences of violence in their same-sex or different-sex relationships by identifying their dynamics and the specific barriers and facilitators to seeking help. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 adult men (Heterosexual, n = 6; Gay, n = 5; Bisexual, n = 2; Not disclosed, n = 1) who self-identified as having been targets of IPV. The interview protocol considered the literature on IPV and the feedback from stakeholders in victim support services. The results were analyzed following the principles of Content Analysis. Our findings suggest that men are negatively impacted by their abusive relationships, with physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence having been perpetrated by their same-sex or different-sex partners. Some men reported being further stigmatized in their help-seeking experiences. Gay and bisexual men indicated specific processes that played a significant role in their experiences. Some men revealed discomfort with the identity of “victim”, which may be linked to possible GRC processes. In sum, IPV impacts men in different-sex and same-sex relationships, and our findings provide new insights about how violence and help-seeking are experienced in the Portuguese cultural setting. Future efforts should focus on assessing possible GRC processes in this population and provide adequate information and tailored services to the specific needs of these men.

The shadow pandemic and the divine feminine in the diaspora: An analysis of Deepa Mehta’s Heaven on Earth

This article engaged in a literary analysis of Deepa Mehta’s Heaven on Earth, with a specific focus on the shadow pandemic being domestic violence in the Indian diaspora, and on the film’s representation of the divine feminine in Indian culture. By using the lens of Hindu mythology, the feminine divine was given prominence. The film centres on the Indian diaspora in Canada. The Canadian diaspora was similar to the South African diaspora through its depiction of Indian and African people living together and experiencing a shared knowledge with specific reference to traditional medicine. Through Heaven on Earth, Mehta offered an alternative to hegemonic patriarchal religious depictions and a varied perspective on gender by highlighting the essential role of the divine feminine. The term ‘shadow pandemic’ denoted domestic violence as a ‘pandemic’ that has scourged across the world, exacerbated by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an analysis of culture and female divinity, the main female protagonist of the text was able to exit an abusive relationship and enter into her own female power. This feminine agency was an important resource for countless women trapped in abusive relationships.Contribution: The discussion in this article centres on a literary analysis of Deepa Mehta’s Heaven on Earth (2008) with emphasis on domestic violence and the shadow pandemic with specific emphasis on women of colour in the diaspora. The analysis also makes use of a cultural lens to discuss both the snake and androgyny in diasporic Indian culture providing a counter-stance to patriarchy. This research can be utilised by hermeneutists of suspicion and specialists in the field of public theology.

Firearm-Related Risks and Consequences for Immigrant Women in Abusive Relationships: Barriers to Reporting Threats to Safety and Recommendations for Safety Planning

ABSTRACT Firearms are the leading cause of intimate partner violence-related murders of women in the US. This study aimed to understand differing consequences of partners’ firearm possession on abused women and barriers women face in reporting threats to safety due to the partners’ possession of a firearm. Additionally, the study explored participants’ perceptions of effective approaches to risk assessments and safety planning with women who are at-risk for being harmed by their partners’ possession of a firearm. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 17 service providers and 45 immigrant women survivors of intimate partner violence were conducted. Data were analyzed using a content analysis procedure. Participants shared that the partners’ possession of a firearm can increase risk for firearm-related injury or fatality in situations of escalation of violence. Abused women living with a partner with firearm possession live in constant fear or threat. The presence of a firearm can also be a trigger of unwanted memories of the past and can have legal and other consequences for survivors. Impediments to reporting threats to safety were barriers such as lack of knowledge of firearm-related risks and gender and social norms. The findings can be informative for safety planning with survivors of IPV whose partners own or have access to a firearm. Comprehensive assessment of risks and barriers can be used to develop individualized and tailored safety plans for survivors with a partner who possesses a firearm.

When social responses for violence against women are insufficient to prevent homelessness - A perspective from Quebec (Canada)

This article presents part of the results of a study carried out in eight administrative regions of Quebec (Canada) where 46 women who had experienced IPV and homelessness in the 5 years preceding the research share their experience through life course in-depth interviews. It focuses mainly on the main structural barriers encountered by women when leaving a context of violence, barriers that appear to have contributed to (re)producing or exacerbating situations of homelessness. It mainly shows that: 1. the lack of response to childhood abuse and instability upon leaving the child protective service creates a context for a transition to homelessness and the experience of a first violent relationship. 2. Under-detection of coercive control limits women's ability to leave the abusive relationship and access safe and stable living conditions and 3. The lack of access to stable housing or to assistance and accommodation resources adapted to certain conditions or in underserved regions keeps women in violent contexts or produces situations of homelessness. The findings of this study raising the need to 1) develop homelessness prevention policies that employ an intersectional gender-based analysis and approach 2) implant a trauma-informed approach in the field of homelessness to consider the impact of violence on women's health, well-being, and living conditions and 3) develop innovative strategies to combat all form of violence that contribute to preventing homelessness in women.

Does the Gender Wage Gap Influence Intimate Partner Violence in Brazil?

<h3>Abstract</h3> Greater gender equality in wages may reduce Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) by improving women’s economic opportunities and enabling them to leave abusive relationships. On the other hand, increases in women’s income may trigger use of violence as an extractive mechanism or as an alternative way to assert superiority for men once economic superiority was challenged. Using panel data from Brazil, we test if the gender wage ratio influences IPV as measured in three types of administrative data: homicides, overnight hospitalizations for assault, and mandatory reports of IPV by health care providers. More wage equality leads to a reduction in violence against women in settings where income is likely to be a binding constraint for leaving abusive relationship: in low-income settings and among younger women.

Victimization Perceived and Experienced by Teens in an Abusive Dating Relationship: The Need to Tear down Social Myths.

The phenomenon of adolescent dating violence is a social health problem that affects thousands of people in different contexts and parts of the world. To date, much of the work that has focused on analysing this phenomenon has tended to study it from the perspective of victimized adolescent girls, considering that gender violence predominates in violent pair relationships. Nonetheless, there is a growing body of evidence that the victimization of adolescent boys is a reality. Thus, mutual violence between boys and girls is increasingly prevalent. Given this context, the present study's objective was to analyse and compare the victimization profile of a sample of female and male adolescents, taking into account the variables most commonly associated with victimization in these abusive relationships (perceived violence suffered, perceived severity, sexism, and moral disengagement). With this objective, different instruments were administered (CUVINO, Scale of Detection of Sexism Adolescents (DSA), and Mechanism of Moral Disengagement Scale (MMDS)). Data analysis based on the construction of a multiple linear regression model confirmed that the boys and girls in the sample revealed having suffered violence from their partners to a different degree. It is evident that the victimization profile of the two sexes is different. Thus, boys show less perception of severity, more sexism, and greater use of certain moral disengagement mechanisms than girls. These results reveal the need to tear down social myths and construct prevention programs that take into account different victimization profiles.

Concerned friends of intimate partner violence survivors: results from the myPlan randomized controlled trial on college campuses

BackgroundNearly half of intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors experience their first abusive relationship at college age (18–24 years). Most often they disclose the violence to friends. Existing college campus “bystander” interventions training peers to safely intervene have been effective in sexual assault prevention; similar interventions have rarely been tested for IPV. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of an interactive, personalized safety decision and planning tool, myPlan app, on decisional conflict, decisional preparedness, confidence in intervening, supportive safety behaviors, and IPV attitudes with concerned friends of abused college women.MethodsWe recruited college students (age 18–24, N = 293) of any gender who had a female-identified friend who had recently experienced IPV (“concerned friends”) from 41 Oregon and Maryland colleges/universities. Participants were randomized to myPlan (n = 147) or control (usual web-based resources; n = 146). Outcomes included decisional conflict, decisional preparedness, confidence to intervene, safety/support behaviors, and IPV attitudes.ResultsAt baseline, concerned friends described the abused person as a close/best friend (79.1%); 93.7% had tried at least one strategy to help. Most (89.2%) reported concerns their friend would be seriously hurt by the abuser; 22.7% reported extreme concern. Intervention participants had greater improvements in decisional conflict (specifically, understanding of their own values around the decision to intervene and help a friend) and decisional preparedness immediately after their first use of myPlan, and a significantly greater increase in confidence to talk with someone about their own relationship concerns at 12 months. At 12-month follow-up, both intervention and control groups reported increased confidence to intervene, and did not differ significantly in terms of percentage of safety/support strategies used, whether strategies were helpful, or IPV attitudes.ConclusionsA technology-based intervention, myPlan, was effective in reducing one aspect of decisional conflict (improving clarity of values to intervene) and increasing decisional preparedness to support a friend in an unsafe relationship. Information on IPV and related safety strategies delivered through the myPlan app or usual web-based resources both increased confidence to intervene with a friend. College students in the myPlan group were more likely to talk with someone about concerns about their own relationship, demonstrating potential for IPV prevention or early intervention.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT02236663, registration date 10/09/2014.

Exploring the use of story completion to understand the perpetration of technology-facilitated abuse in relationships

PurposeThis paper presents a novel exploration of the story completion (SC) method for investigating perpetration of technology-facilitated abuse in relationships (TAR).Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopted the infrequently used SC method to explore TAR perpetration. The perpetration of TAR can involve socially undesirable and potentially illegal behaviours such as online stalking, non-consensual sharing of nude images, and other coercive and controlling behaviours. These problematic behaviours present an ideal context for employing the SC method to reveal new data on TAR perpetrator perspectives, motivations and behaviours.FindingsThe SC method elicited new hypotheses regarding TAR perpetration behaviours and motivations. Post-study reflection on the multifaceted nature of perpetration raised questions about the utility of SC as a stand-alone method for investigating TAR perpetration. Challenges encountered included: striking the most effective length, detail and ambiguity in the story stems, difficulty in eliciting important contextual features in participants’ stories, and other issues scholars encounter when investigating perpetration of violence more broadly. The authors close with suggestions for more effective use of SC methodology in TAR and intimate partner violence research.Originality/valueThis paper expands discussion of the SC method’s application and extends scholarship on violence and perpetration research methodologies. The paper demonstrates the importance of story stem design to the attainment of research objectives and the usefulness and limitations of SC in exploring this sensitive topic and hard-to-reach population. It also advocates for the combined application of SC with other methodological approaches for the attainment of research outcomes when investigating multifaceted phenomenon.

The Process of Leaving Abuse: Midlife and Older Male Experiences of Female-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence.

Leaving an abusive relationship is a difficult process for all survivors. For men, this can be particularly challenging due to the current knowledge and support for survivors being heavily influenced by a feminist discourse, despite a growing body of research that examines men's experiences. This raises concerns about how men make sense of abuse, where they seek support for injuries and psychological distress, and what services are available to them to help them move on from abuse. Narrative interviews with 12 midlife and older men (aged 45-65 years) who had experienced intimate partner violence from a female were conducted with the aim to explore their journey of leaving abuse. The men's stories revealed themes of how they made sense of what was happening to them (legitimacy as a survivor and self-help), their experiences of service readiness to respond to male victimization (discrimination from police, legal system set up to support women, and service readiness for males), and how men can leave abuse (post-separation abuse and support from friends and family). Implications of the findings demonstrate that many services are still not equipped to support male survivors. The men in our study found it difficult to comprehend their experience as abuse and this is negatively reinforced by ineffective services and stereotypical beliefs about abuse. However, informal support through friends and family is a powerful tool in supporting men to leave abusive relationships. More work is needed to increase awareness of male survivors and ensure that services, including legal systems, are inclusive.

Criminal Orders of Protection for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence, Future System Engagement, and Well-Being: Understanding the Importance of Prior Abusive Relationships

ABSTRACT This study investigated women’s court experiences, mental health, and willingness to engage the system in the future for intimate partner violence (IPV), with a primary focus on the role of prior abusive relationships. Among 298 women whose partners were arrested for IPV, chi-square analyses found that women who had (vs. did not have) a prior abusive relationship were less likely to have contact with a court-based victim advocate, but there were no differences in the criminal order of protection level of restriction they requested. Regression analyses indicated that women with (vs. without) prior abusive relationships reported greater depression symptoms and perceived stress, and less willingness to engage the system in the future. No differences emerged in PTSD symptoms. This study provides insight into the experiences women have in the court system following their partner’s arrest for IPV, considers their past abusive experiences, and has implications for women’s safety and well-being.

Experiences of Exploitation and Associations With Economic Abuse in Adolescent Dating Relationships: Findings From a U.S. Cross-Sectional Survey

ABSTRACT Adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) (i.e. physical, sexual, psychological, or economic abuse in the context of romantic relationships) is associated with adverse health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, suicidality, unintended pregnancy, and substance misuse. A related phenomenon, reproductive coercion involves interference with the reproductive decision making of a partner with the intention of promoting pregnancy or controlling outcomes of a pregnancy. Reproductive coercion is associated with unintended pregnancy, partner violence, and sexually transmitted infections. Little is known about the intersection between economic ARA, sexual exploitation, and reproductive coercion. This paper explores the intersections between reproductive coercion, transactional sex, and economic abuse victimization in adolescent dating relationships. In an online survey, 1,752 adolescents (ages 13–17) were asked about economic adolescent relationship abuse (educational, employment and financial interference), transactional sex, reproductive coercion, and contraceptive access within their relationships. We assessed associations with chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. Youth who experienced economic ARA (70%, 1,232) reported financial dependence on their partner, contraceptive access, and reproductive coercion (74–83%; p-values<0.001) more often than their counterparts without economic ARA. Adolescents experiencing economic abuse were more likely to report transactional sex (aOR = 2.76, CI [2.12, 3.60], p < .001), depending on a partner to pay for contraception or birth control (aOR = 2.20, CI [1.71, 2.84], p < .001), and reproductive coercion (aOR = 3.20, CI [2.37, 4.32], p < .001). Youth-serving providers and agencies should be aware of intersections between economic ARA, transactional sex, financial dependence, and reproductive coercion, particularly for adolescents with health-related social needs.

Are Namibian women being decolonised? Causes of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as presented in !Khaxas’ anthology, We Must Choose Life (2008)

The paper examines the causes of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Namibia as presented by Namibian women writers in the anthology ‘We Must Choose Life’ (2008). Gender-based violence against women is a worldwide problem and a global concern. Many women globally, Namibian women included, have remained in abusive relationships because of their dependence on the perpetrators of violence for socio-economic support. As explicated by the poems, some Namibian men treat women as the offenders, and the treatment of women at the hands of the men is compared to Apartheid, slavery, and colonialism. It is safe to say that Namibian women are viewed through the lens of the "aristocratic mind," where they are viewed as weak, oppressed and marginalised in their respective societies. The anthology, ‘We Must Choose Life’ (2008), compiled by a Namibian feminist, Elisabeth !Khaxas, breaks the silence of Namibian women and evinces their desire to work towards equality and civilised societies. The paper employs a content analysis approach to analyse the projections of GBV in selected poems and short stories from the anthology. A textual analysis of the creative texts is also undertaken, couched within the theoretical framework of Ecofeminism, which examines the suffering of women from the dominant influence of a male-oriented society. In this respect, specific forms of the abuse of women have been identified as gender-based violence with a level of acceptability. The paper establishes the proliferation in Namibia, of trends in which, some women have endured long-standing abusive relationships because of an over-dependence on the male perpetrators of violence for socio-economic support, fear of the perpetrators’ reprisals, as well as conformity to cultural and religious practices. These narratives bear witness to the bravery of Namibian women to express their anguish and suffering through their own words.