Social networks are usually considered as positive sources of social support, a role which has been extensively studied in the context of domestic violence. To victims of abuse, social networks often provide initial emotional and practical help as well useful information ahead of formal institutions. Recently, however, attention has been paid to the negative responses of social networks. In this article, we advance the theoretical debate on social networks as a source of social support by moving beyond the distinction between positive and negative ties. We do so by proposing the concepts of relational ambivalence and consistency, which describe the interactive processes by which people, intentionally or inadvertently, disregard or align with each other role relational expectations, therefore undermining or reinforcing individual choices of action. We analyse the qualitative accounts of nineteen female victims of domestic violence in Sweden, who described the responses of their personal networks during and after the abuse. We observe how the relationships embedded in these networks were described in ambivalent and consistent terms, and how they played a role in supporting or undermining women in reframing their loving relationships as abusive; in accounting or dismissing perpetrators responsibilities for the abuse; in relieving women from role expectations and obligations or in burdening them with further responsibilities; and in supporting or challenging their pathways out of domestic abuse. Our analysis suggests that social isolation cannot be considered a simple result of a lack of support but of the complex dynamics in which support is offered and accepted or withdrawn and refused.
翻译:社会网络通常被视为社会支助的积极来源,这种作用在家庭暴力背景下得到了广泛研究。社会网络往往在正式机构之前为虐待受害者提供初步情感和实际的帮助以及有用的信息。但最近注意到社会网络的消极反应。在本条中,我们推动社会网络的理论辩论,超越积极和消极关系之间的区别,将社会网络作为社会支助的一个来源。我们这样做的方式是提出关系矛盾和一致性的概念,这些概念描述了人们故意或无意地无视或调整彼此的角色关系期望的互动过程,从而破坏或强化个人行动选择。我们分析了瑞典19名家庭暴力女性受害者的质量说明,他们描述了他们在虐待期间和之后的个人网络的反应。我们观察这些网络中包含的各种关系是如何用矛盾和前后一致的术语描述的,以及它们如何发挥作用,支持或损害妇女的爱心关系是虐待;核算或解雇施暴者的责任;减轻妇女的角色和义务,或加强个人行动选择。我们分析了瑞典19名家庭暴力受害者的质量,他们描述了她们个人网络在虐待期间和之后的反应。我们观察这些网络中包含的关系是如何以矛盾和前后一致的方式描述的,这些关系是如何支持或削弱妇女的感情关系;我们无法接受的。