Title

From The Inside Out: Efforts By Homeless Women To Disrupt Cycles Of Crime And Violence

Keywords

Childhood victimization; Cycle of violence; Domestic violence; Risk factors

Abstract

The premise that childhood victimization is a risk factor for crime and violence in adulthood finds general support, though few agree that there is a direct causal relationship. Mediating factors and intervening variables are often studied. Rarely investigated, however, are the complex and difficult dynamics experienced by those enmeshed in these "cycles of violence." In this study we explore the struggles of homeless women to disrupt patterns of violence in their lives. Using in-depth qualitative interviews, we illustrate how these women learn and understand that they are caught up in cycles of crime and violence and, to varying degrees, have made active efforts to disrupt them. However, we find that they have very few tools or resources with which this could be accomplished, which ultimately thwarts potentially successful efforts for lasting change while foregrounding deficiencies in systemic support. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Publication Date

12-2-2009

Publication Title

Women and Criminal Justice

Volume

19

Issue

3

Number of Pages

217-234

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/08974450903001552

Socpus ID

70649095196 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/70649095196

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