Sanctioned by the legal system: a systems approach to women, child contact, and intimate partner violence and abuse

This book considers women’s child contact experiences in the context of abuse and comes from a feminist epistemology. It brings together survivor and professional experiences of the family contact system in England and Wales, applying systems theories to examine how the whole system works together to drive change across different organisations and settings. It focusses on three studies from England and Wales which make use of innovative designs to capture the perspectives of survivors and professionals. It develops the field by emphasizing survivor voices and providing theory-based explanations of the findings to aid understanding and drive change. This book is led by survivor voices who suggest the system is ineffective and hinders progress, well-being and safety. Professional insights add to the discussion, highlighting ineffective practice across the system and damaging myths that impact survivor and child outcomes. The book provides a broad picture, considering how women navigate child contact with fathers who have been abusive, and the challenges they face with the current system. It speaks to those looking to compare systems and practices across countries. The book may be of interest to those working, studying or researching in child protection, family law, domestic abuse, social work, and/or policing.