The policy and implementation tools for combating violence against women: The experience of women's shelters

This research was conducted to examine the experiences of women exposed to domestic violence and their interactions with institutional protection mechanisms. In the study conducted with a phenomenological approach from qualitative research methods, in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 28 women living in Mersin, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep and Istanbul, 18 of whom applied to women's shelters (SEK, n=18) and 10 of whom did not apply (BK, n=10). The data were analyzed under ten themes using the phenomenological analysis method. The research findings showed that domestic violence operates as a complex control system in which physical, psychological, economic and sexual violence are intertwined. It was determined that male perpetrators of violence use similar control and legitimization strategies despite being in different socio-economic statuses. It was found that a large part of the participating women returned to the homes where they experienced violence due to socio-economic inadequacies. It was revealed that women are not passive victims but active subjects who develop survival and resistance strategies. It was determined that children occupy a paradoxical position in the cycle of violence and that violence shows intergenerational transmission. It was determined that women were exposed to secondary victimization due to the inadequacies of institutional protection mechanisms. The research results showed that domestic violence is related to structural inequalities. Strengthening institutional protection mechanisms, developing child-focused intervention programs and implementing policies targeting gender equality were recommended.