Abused women being ignored, study finds

A UVic study says abused women aren’t being listened to by service providers within the justice system and therefore aren’t getting the help they need. It also reveals that women are often intimidated by the system and that its processes and options are often not explained to them.

These are just some of the findings of a three-year study conducted by UVic nursing professor Dr. Colleen Varcoe from June 1999 to June 2002. As principal investigator, Varcoe undertook the study to gain understanding of how abused women experienced Canada’s justice system.

“Now that we’ve completed the study we want to use the results to educate service providers and policy-makers about the importance of listening to women,” Varcoe explains. “We also want women users of anti-violence systems involved in the creation and evaluation of services.”

A total of 46 women, aged 21–63, from various cultural, economic and educational backgrounds participated in the study. These abuse survivors were interviewed about their efforts to seek help from abuse.

The study also found that language barriers, poverty, marginalization and racism magnified the problems women encountered.

Varcoe’s efforts were assisted by UVic and community researchers and members of Women in Action, a social action group comprised of formerly abused women.