What Can We Do? Social Workers in Trinidad Discuss Intimate Partner Violence Against Women. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nathaniel, Karene-Anne
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 27:Number 15/16(2021)
• Page Start: 2971
• Page End: 2989
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: social work -- self-efficacy -- victim-blaming -- social blaming; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801220981140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

This article presents findings from research on the Caribbean island of Trinidad with male and female social workers, exploring their views of intimate partner violence against women. The premise here is that actions of helping professionals, including social workers, are partly founded on their views of social problems and clients. Three themes emerged from the conversations as contributing to violence against women: the attitudes and behaviors of victims; societal norms and attitudes; and weak interagency collaboration. A sense of futility in intervention was apparent in the conversations. There are implications for strengthening professional self-efficacy, attitude to clients, and networking.