DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: WHY DOES IT PERSIST?

Abstract

Even after feminist movements have achieved changes for equality and opportunities for women in Western society, domestic violence is a concern. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the reasons that lead financially independent women to remain in abusive relationships from the perspective of Freud's theory of masochism and other authors. Fifteen financially independent women who are or have been in an abusive relationship participated; they answered an online questionnaire on the subject. The research shows that the difficulties in breaking off the relationship can be based on gender roles, motherhood and the naturalization of abuse.

Keywords: domestic violence; woman; independence; love relationship; psychology.