Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Deborah Laufersweiler-Dwyer

Abstract

According to recent studies, intimate partner femicide (IPF) is a problem that occurs on a daily basis. Researchers have demonstrated that women lack helpful resources or fail to use helpful resources before they are murdered but have not established why this may be. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand help-seeking behaviors of female survivors of IPF attacks. Marxist feminist theory was used to guide the study. The research questions were aimed to understand the lived experiences of the participants and to identify help-seeking behaviors. Data were collected from individual interviews with 10 female survivors of IPF attacks. Data were analyzed using codes and categories to identify themes. Results from this study indicate that warning signs of IPF attacks were multiple forms of abuse, jealousy, controlling behaviors, and manipulation. Findings from this study include recommended help-seeking behaviors for women, such as seeking a therapist, confiding in a friend, going to a shelter or organization, or going to authorities if necessary. Implications for positive social change include that women in current intimate relationships who suspect they may become victims of IPF may use the findings to implement help-seeking behaviors. Law enforcement may wish to suggest these alternatives to women with whom they come into contact.

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