Determining the sensitivity of women victims of violence to violence against children: The İstanbul women's shelter example

SUMMARY Violence against women persists as a global problem that violates individuals' fundamental rights and freedoms. This study, conducted at the 10th Women's Shelter affiliated with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, aimed to examine the sensitivity of women who are victims of domestic violence towards violence against children. Within the scope of the research, interviews were conducted with women who requested shelter support due to violence they experienced within their families, and the women's attitudes towards violence against children were evaluated. A quantitative research method was adopted in the study, and the "Domestic Violence Against Women Scale" and the "Sensitivity to Violence Against Children Scale" were used as data collection tools. Correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the scales, and the connections between the participants' demographic characteristics and their sensitivity to violence were also examined. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program, and descriptive statistics and regression analyses were applied. The study found that the vast majority of women who were victims of domestic violence found violence against their children unacceptable, but some women tended to normalize violence due to their experience of violence. Significant relationships were found between women's educational level, the duration and type of violence they experienced, and their sensitivity to violence against children. In particular, it was observed that women who were exposed to physical and psychological violence for a long time internalized violence against their children more. However, it was found that women's access to social support mechanisms increased their awareness of violence against children. Considering the individual and societal dimensions of violence against women, increasing women's access to psychosocial support mechanisms is of great importance in preventing the intergenerational transmission of violence. It was concluded that the scope of services provided in women's shelters should be expanded, mothers should be made aware of how to prevent violence against their children, and rehabilitation processes should be strengthened. In this context, it is recommended to strengthen social service policies, disseminate awareness-raising training, and increase support mechanisms for women to gain economic independence. Keywords: Violence Against Women, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Social Support Mechanisms, Psychosocial Support