Experiences, Needs, and Service Utilization by (Co) Victims of Domestic Violence Against Women


Sabry Adel Saadi, Université du Québec à Montréal

In Québec, intrafamilial homicides account for 29.5% of all homicides, with the majority being cases of domestic violence-related killings by men of their female (ex)partners (MSP, 2023). Coercive control, an often insidious and prevalent dynamic in these cases, is central to this study. Retrospective reviews of femicides shows that a majority of women sought help prior to their murderunderscoring the urgency to understand and act. However, there remains a gap concerning needs and the help-seeking experiences of survivors and their close ones, especially those with children during the critical post-separation period. Our research aims to fill this gap by focusing on the often-neglected needs related to womens self-determination and capacity to act to protect themselves and their loved ones, thus shedding light on lesser-known facets of domestic violence. This research focuses on elucidating the often unexpressed experiences and needs of women survivors of attempted femicide and their close ones. The goal is twofold: to reveal the complexity and specificity of the psycho-socio-judicial needs of survivors in the post-separation period, and to highlight the help strategies they develop in response to these challenges. The study aspires to document practices of self-determination and agency, which are crucial but underrepresented in the literature on domestic violence. Through this work, our aim is to make a substantial contribution towards enhancing comprehension of coercive control, domestic violence dynamics, and journeys to safety. Our study draws on in depth interviews of survivors of near femicide and from proxies (family members, friends, colleagues) of women killed. Data was collected as part of the Canadian Initiative for the Prevention of Domestic Homicides, a large, multi-site project with investigators from across Canada focused on four populations that are known to experience increased vulnerability to domestic homicide including: Indigenous populations, rural, remote, and northern populations, immigrant and refugee populations, and children exposed to domestic violence. This study makes use of the 26 interviews that were conducted with survivors in Québec. Interviews were designed in accordance with an narrative research framework and invited participants to talk about specific times when they didn’t feel safe, what they did about it, who they sought help from, and what was helpful and unhelpful. Probes were used to further explore the resultant stories and elicit elaboration on survivors’ help-seeking behaviours, barriers to seeking help, and the kind of supports that may have been more helpful. Additional probes also invited participants to reflect upon what these stories and events meant to them, so as to gain an understanding of their interpretation of their own story. Analysis adopted a phenomenological analysis to seek to understand the intimate experiences of the individuals involved. Methodological rigor is ensured by careful selection of participants and conducting interviews that allow for free and open narration. The analysis plans to connect these narratives to the research objectives, aiming to reveal authentic insights into survival strategies and post-violence needs. The author of this thesis engages in this research with a perspective enriched by personal and professional experiences in the field of domestic violence. As a man belonging to a visible minority and part of the sexual and gender diversity, as well as a survivor of domestic violence, he brings a deep understanding of the subtleties of gender-based violence. This confluence of identities offers a particular sensitivity to the narratives of survivors and witnesses of these violences, allowing for a nuanced and empathetic analysis. Professionally, the author has worked as a specialized educator and social worker, acquiring direct practical experience with victims and intervention systems. This lived and professional expertise, combined with an active role in the data collection phase of the Canadian Initiative for the Prevention of Domestic Homicides, gives the author a unique position to interpret the data with rigor and sensitivity, while recognizing the importance of maintaining scientific objectivity. As we navigate through the data and starting the analysis, a concise summary of the preliminary with some initial themes , offering a glimpse into the discoveries made during the course of our study. The research aims to illuminate the post-violence journeys of survivors and to influence interventions and policies. By identifying specific needs and examining self-determination strategies, this study proposes a framework for improving support systems and for creating more effective public policies. The ultimate goal is to provide essential information to strengthen the protection and support of survivors of attempted femicide and their close ones. REFERENCE Ministère de la Sécurité publique (2023). Criminalité au Québec - Infractions contre la personne commises dans un contexte conjugal en 2021, [en ligne], Ministère de la Sécurité publique, https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/adm/min/securite-publique/pub… (consulté le 1 janvier 2024).

This paper will be presented at the following session: