Kadın Konukevinde Kalan Şiddet Mağduru Kadınların Yaşam Planlarının Niteliksel Olarak Araştırılması: Eskişehir Örneği

Abstract

This study aims to identify the future life plans of the women who are victims of violence and staying at a women shelter after leaving this facility, and the factors affecting these plans. The study also investigates how much these women are satisfied with the services they receive at the women guesthouse to achieve their future plans. In the study designed as a qualitative research, 20 women who have suffered from violence and now staying at Eskişehir Women Shelter were interviewed. In this framework, in-depth interviews were conducted with the women using semi-structured interview forms prepared in line with the purposes of the study. The notes taken during the interviews were put down on paper afterwards and then, classified under themes and codes in light of theoretical knowledge. The results of the study was interpreted under the themes of socio-demographic findings, violence history, process of combating violence, women shelter experience, life plans, being a lone woman in the society, and assessment of the services provided by the women shelter. The study also found that lots of the women are planning to find a job and move in another house with their children in the future. It seems that women are affected by the level of education and economic opportunities, especially patriarchal social norms while making life plans. The study found that only a small percentage of the women who participated in the study have tried to realize their life plans while others are not strong enough to make an effort for their life plans due to reasons such as lack of confidence, not overcoming the effects of violence yet, health problems and having little children. Most of the women consider the services provided in the women guesthouse just as safe shelter and meeting their basic moral and material needs, and express their gratitude for these services. Because of the violence the women heavily suffered from, they first of all want to maintain their life in a safe place free form violence. Besides, their low level of education affects their future plans and causes that their expectations from the women guesthouse ix remains at a basic level. Therefore, the women could not determine their needs from a broader perspective and assess the services of the women guest house accordingly. At the end of the study, it is concluded that more comprehensive services should be offered in the women shelters for providing women with occupation and help them find a job, and some services delivered in these guest houses should be improved in order to facilitate women's struggle to make their own lives.