A1 Journal article (refereed)
Non-abusing mothers’ agency after disclosure of the child’s extra-familial sexual abuse (2021)
Serin, Hanife. (2021). Non-abusing mothers’ agency after disclosure of the child’s extra-familial sexual abuse. European Journal of Women`s Studies, 28(4), 532-546. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506820944432
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Serin; Hanife
Journal or series: European Journal of Women`s Studies
ISSN: 1350-5068
eISSN: 1461-7420
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 17/08/2020
Volume: 28
Issue number: 4
Pages range: 532-546
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506820944432
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71657
Abstract
This qualitative study analysed the agency of eight non-abusing mothers in the Turkish Cypriot Community after disclosure that their child had been sexually abused by someone outside the family. The aim was to discover how, after disclosure, such mothers act to protect their children in the contexts of their family and community. The data were gathered via semi-structured in-depth interviews and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). In the nuclear family context, maternal agency emerged in the form of motherhood skills, including emotionally supporting the abused child, double-checking the child’s safety or limiting the child’s mobility, and controlling the actions of adult sons. In the community context, maternal agency was manifested in efforts to prevent men in the extended family or the abuser’s family from concealing the abuse and to obtain informal support from others such as birth or extended family members. The women were usually successful in hiding their reactions or making decisions in their children’s best interest despite frequently having to cope with the reality of living in a restrictive and patriarchal culture. The results emphasise the need for working with the general public and professionals to change the culture of silence and to improve the social support network for sexually abused children and non-abusing family members, especially mothers.
Keywords: violence (activity); oppression; sexual abuse; children (age groups); children (family members); mothers; human agency; social support; social work; patriarchy; feminist theory; phenomenology; qualitative research
Free keywords: feminism; interpretative phenomenological snalysis; male oppression; patriarchy; qualitative research; relationality; social support; social work; violence against women and children; women’s voice
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2020
JUFO rating: 2
