WHY THEY STAY: THE CONTEXTUAL REASONS WHY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN PIMA COUNTY FIND DIFFICULTY IN LEAVING THEIR ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

Abstract

Domestic violence is an issue with pressing urgency internationally, but specifically in Pima County. Scholars estimate 1 in 3 women were survivors of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in 2020 (Kilfe 2024). In 2022, Tucson saw an increase of 21 percent in calls to domestic violence hotline center Emerge, which should be noted as the highest number of calls they had ever received (Rodriguez 2022). Domestic violence survivors often experience a series of highs and lows that makes it incredibly difficult for them to leave their abusive partner. There are other contributing factors that prevent a survivor from leaving, such as family roles, cultural factors, and lack of external support outside of the relationship. One must ask what resources are currently available to survivors in Pima County, and what opportunities for improvement there are to advance such resources. To understand the bigger picture of domestic violence and propose potential solutions, it is vital to first be familiar with the contextual reasons why a domestic violence survivor may struggle to leave their abusive relationship.