IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/adi/ijbess/v7y2025i4p187-196.html

Invisible chains: structural and emotional forces behind women’s continued stay in abusive relationships

Author

Listed:
  • Mmaphuti Percy Dipela

    (University of South Africa)

  • Gavela Rossaline Ndhlovu

    (Department of Social Development, Senior Social Worker, South Africa)

Abstract

This paper delves into structural and affective determinants of women's persistence in violent relationships within the overarching theme of "Invisible Chains." The research, informed by a qualitative research design based on phenomenology, aimed to discover the lived experiences of women exposed to intimate partner violence (abusive relationships). Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with self-identified female abuse victims. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data and derive repetitive patterns and meanings. The significant findings indicate that economic reliance was a common factor, as the majority of participants did not have the economic means or the means to obtain resources to escape violent relationships. Fears as emotional constraints, like fear of new beginnings, loss of self-worth, and worry about children's lives, also trap them. Social norms regarding marriage and gendered roles worked to render abuse normal. Institutional failure, including the inaction of social workers, the police, and other professionals, isolated and disempowered women. These results highlight the need for multifaceted interventions incorporating individual empowerment, systemic change, and cultural change. The research identifies economic support, trauma-informed care, and institutional responsibility in eradicating the invisible forces that keep women locked in abusive relationships. Key Words:Women, Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence, Social Workers, Relationships

Suggested Citation

  • Mmaphuti Percy Dipela & Gavela Rossaline Ndhlovu, 2025. "Invisible chains: structural and emotional forces behind women’s continued stay in abusive relationships," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 7(4), pages 187-196, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:adi:ijbess:v:7:y:2025:i:4:p:187-196
    DOI: 10.36096/ijbes.v7i4.841
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.bussecon.com/ojs/index.php/ijbes/article/view/841/530
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v7i4.841
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.36096/ijbes.v7i4.841?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Campbell, J.C. & Webster, D. & Koziol-McLain, J. & Block, C. & Campbell, D. & Curry, M.A. & Gary, F. & Glass, N. & McFarlane, J. & Sachs, C. & Sharps, P. & Ulrich, Y. & Wilt, S.A. & Manganello, J. & X, 2003. "Risk Factors for Femicide in Abusive Relationships: Results from a Multisite Case Control Study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(7), pages 1089-1097.
    2. Naila Kabeer, 2016. "Gender Equality, Economic Growth, and Women's Agency: the "Endless Variety" and "Monotonous Similarity" of Patriarchal Constraints," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 295-321, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kafka, Julie M. & Moracco, Kathryn E. & Williams, Deanna S. & Hoffman, Claire G., 2021. "What is the role of firearms in nonfatal intimate partner violence? Findings from civil protective order case data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    2. Elizabeth Richardson Vigdor & James A. Mercy, 2006. "Do Laws Restricting Access to Firearms by Domestic Violence Offenders Prevent Intimate Partner Homicide?," Evaluation Review, , vol. 30(3), pages 313-346, June.
    3. Marjorie Pichon & Sarah Treves-Kagan & Erin Stern & Nambusi Kyegombe & Heidi Stöckl & Ana Maria Buller, 2020. "A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review: Infidelity, Romantic Jealousy and Intimate Partner Violence against Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-35, August.
    4. San Vicente Portes, Luis & Atal, Vidya & Juárez Torres, Miriam, 2019. "From households to national statistics: Macroeconomic effects of Women's empowerment," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 286-294.
    5. Sims, Kaitlyn M., 2025. "Policymaking and pretrial fairness: Evaluating Illinois' ban on cash bail beyond Chicago," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    6. Charvonne N. Holliday & Kristin Bevilacqua & Karen Trister Grace & Langan Denhard & Arshdeep Kaur & Janice Miller & Michele R. Decker, 2021. "Examining the Neighborhood Attributes of Recently Housed Partner Violence Survivors in Rapid Rehousing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-22, April.
    7. Emily F. Rothman & Renee M. Johnson & David Hemenway, 2006. "Gun Possession among Massachusetts Batterer Intervention Program Enrollees," Evaluation Review, , vol. 30(3), pages 283-295, June.
    8. Durrance, Christine Piette & Golden, Shelley & Perreira, Krista & Cook, Philip, 2011. "Taxing sin and saving lives: Can alcohol taxation reduce female homicides?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 169-176, July.
    9. Gerdes, Madison B, 2023. "Assessing the relationship between gun ownership and fear of mass shootings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    10. Jorge Mori Mojalott, 2020. "Progreso de género, acceso a la justicia y campañas de prevención como determinantes del feminicidio en Perú," Revista de Análisis Económico y Financiero, Universidad de San Martín de Porres, vol. 2(01), pages 50-63.
    11. Lynch, Kellie R. & Jackson, Dylan B., 2021. "Firearm exposure and the health of high-risk intimate partner violence victims," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    12. Nunes, Débora & Arora, Diksha & Braunstein, Elissa, 2025. "Real effective exchange rate shocks and job quality by gender in Latin America," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 262-273.
    13. James F. Anderson & Kellie Reinsmith-Jones & Tazinski Lee & Adam H. Langsam, 2019. "A Tri-state Investigation of Firearms Confiscation on Three Regional University Campuses," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 7(5), pages 22-33, September.
    14. Kevin Petersen & Robert C. Davis & David Weisburd & Bruce Taylor, 2022. "Effects of second responder programs on repeat incidents of family abuse: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), March.
    15. Amit Nandan & Hrushikesh Mallick, 2020. "Does Gender Equality Matter for Regional Growth and Income Inequality? An Empirical Analysis for the Indian States," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 439-469, May.
    16. Fernández-Kranz, Daniel & Nollenberger, Natalia & Roff, Jennifer Louise, 2020. "Bargaining under Threats: The Effect of Joint Custody Laws on Intimate Partner Violence," IZA Discussion Papers 13810, IZA Network @ LISER.
    17. Anna Sorrentino & Vincenza Cinquegrana & Chiara Guida, 2022. "Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Femicide–Suicide in Italy: An Ecological Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.
    18. Stumbitz, Bianca & Lewis, Suzan & Kyei, Abigail A. & Lyon, Fergus, 2018. "Maternity protection in formal and informal economy workplaces: The case of Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 373-384.
    19. Ip, Melody W.S. & Manning, Matthew & Wong, Gabriel T.W. & Wong, Dennis S.W., 2020. "Exploring key risk factors of intimate partner violence among chinese college students," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    20. Koppa, Vijetha, 2024. "Can information save lives? Effect of a victim-focused police intervention on intimate partner homicides," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 756-782.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:adi:ijbess:v:7:y:2025:i:4:p:187-196. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Umit Hacioglu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ibihutr.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.