Leaving an abusive relationship behind: voices and testimonies of immigrant women victims of sexist violence

Abstract

This research aims to present the stories and narratives of a group of immigrant women who have suffered gender violence living in a shelter in the Valencian Community. Also, find out the state in which they arrive at the House, the barriers they have had to overcome in order to leave the abusive relationship and the influence of the support received during their stay there. This is a qualitative investigation developed in a social entity using a multiple case study design. The entry to the field occurs through a Contemporary Dance workshop in which a space of personal knowledge and communication is created and where participants can tell their experiences without being judged and release their repressed emotional charge since long time. After the experience, it can be concluded that the arrival at the House is stressful for this group due to the suffering they carry with them, the uncertainty, the imminent change, and the erroneous expectations about what they will find in the House. However, after the adaptation period they usually find themselves again. They recover and start managing their lives with the strategies learned. They approach their daughters/sons, and leave strengthened and making a positive assessment of the professional support received.