The Role of Mothering in Portuguese Women’s Decision-Making within Abusive Relationships

Purpose: This article reports on the findings from a larger study focusing on women’s experiences of abuse and subsequent criminal justice interventions. While mothering was not initially the central concern of this research, it soon became clear that it played a key role in informing women’s decision-making within abusive relationships which could not be overlooked. As such, I explore the role of mothering and children in women’s decision-making and responses to the abuse. Method: This research was underpinned by feminist principles. It involved semi-structured interviews conducted with twenty-nine Portuguese women, between September and December 2017. Data was analyzed thematically. Results: Findings from this research show that mothering identities surpass victim status. In explaining their decision-making, women more commonly draw on their mothering identities, their behavior being guided by their perceived responsibilities to protect and care for their children. Due to social constructions of motherhood and mothering, in the Portuguese context and beyond, women struggle with the coexistence of both mothering identities and victim status, with the first inevitably erasing the second. Conclusion: A better understanding of the complex ways in which women act to care for and protect their children within abusive relationships is needed. Contrary to the often perpetuated belief that abused women are incapable of caring for their children, this research highlights how their own victimization and risk is made secondary in their attempts to ensure their children’s safety and wellbeing. The implications of these findings for policy and practice are considered.