U of M conducts study on violence against women

Chelsea Moore Staff

Dr. Jane Ursel, an assistant professor in the department of sociology at the University of Manitoba, is the principal investigator of a million-dollar study on violence against women. The study will include a collection of interviews from 200 women who have been abused by their partners, from nine different cities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

“We want to know the factors that assist women in escaping violence, and those factors that are in hindrance, so that we can change program and policy to assist women,” said Ursel.

The project, entitled “The Healing Journey: A Long-Term Study of Women Affected by Intimate Partner Violence,” is funded over a period of five years by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

The funding is part of a special grant called the Community University Research Alliance (CURA), which supports academic research in partnership with communities.

In 2002, just short of 34,000 victims of spousal abuse were reported. According to a study called “Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile,” 28,633 of those victims were women — 85 per cent.

“The Healing Journey” is the first Canadian ecological and longitudinal study based on qualitative and quantitative data on the experiences of abused women in intimate relationships.

The study will focus on how women pursue a violence-free life, as well as how women are affected as parents as a result of experiencing abuse.

“We’re asking women about what services they’ve used and how helpful they’ve been,” said Ursel, adding that many women use “informal agencies” for support.

“We’d like to know where women are not using the sort of designated agencies, and where are they getting their help and support to try and achieve a violence-free life,” added Ursel.

According to a snapshot survey called “Canada’s Shelters for Abused Women, 1999-2000,” on April 17, 2000, 254 women and 222 children were turned away from 89 shelters in Canada, and 71 per cent of the time it was because the shelter did not have space for them.

“I’ve been working in this field since 1983,” said Ursel. “We’ve known that there are a lot of questions about how accessible services [are], and how helpful.”

Currently the interviewing process is in the first wave of a total of seven; 120 women have already been recruited through agencies and organizations across the three provinces.

However, Ursel noted that 80 more women are needed to participate in the confidential interviews before they can continue to the next stage of the project.

“It’s been a little slower than anticipated,” said Ursel.

Women who would like to participate in the study and who have been in a 3-year-long violent relationship can contact Ann at 474-9349 or Jocelyn at 474-7410. An honorarium is provided.

More on violence against women

Chelsea Moore

This data is taken from a report entitled “Assessing Violence Against Women: A Statistical Profile,” prepared in 1999 by a joint commission of ministers representing women provincially and territorially, as well as federally, using data commissioned from Statistics Canada.

In 1993, 51 per cent of women had been either sexually or physically assaulted at least once since they were 16; 60 per cent of these women had been assaulted more than once.
25 per cent of these women were assaulted by a spouse or former spouse; 16 per cent were the victim of a dating partner; 23 per cent were abused by male acquaintances; and 23 per cent were abused by strangers.
Women under the age of 25 face the highest rates of physical and sexual abuse.
Women who are discriminated against are more likely to face violence and have a harder time accessing services than women who are not.
omen experience far more sexual and spousal assaults than men, and receive injuries that are more serious, both physically and psychologically.
In the context of spousal assault, women are beaten twice as often as men, are choked five times as often and are nearly 50 per cent more likely to be stabbed or shot.
66 per cent of women who face spousal assaults encounter violence more than once; 25 to 33 per cent of these women have experienced abuse more than 10 times.
Aboriginal women experience spousal assault twice as often as Aboriginal men, and three times as often as both men and women who are not Aboriginal.





Volume 93 • Issue 21	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	February 8, 2006

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly U of M conducts study on violence against women Chelsea Moore Staff Dr. Jane Ursel, an assistant professor in the department of sociology at the University of Manitoba, is the principal investigator of a million-dollar study on violence against women. The study will include a collection of interviews from 200 women who have been abused by their partners, from nine different cities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. “We want to know the factors that assist women in escaping violence, and those factors that are in hindrance, so that we can change program and policy to assist women,” said Ursel. The project, entitled “The Healing Journey: A Long-Term Study of Women Affected by Intimate Partner Violence,” is funded over a period of five years by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The funding is part of a special grant called the Community University Research Alliance (CURA), which supports academic research in partnership with communities. In 2002, just short of 34,000 victims of spousal abuse were reported. According to a study called “Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile,” 28,633 of those victims were women — 85 per cent. “The Healing Journey” is the first Canadian ecological and longitudinal study based on qualitative and quantitative data on the experiences of abused women in intimate relationships. The study will focus on how women pursue a violence-free life, as well as how women are affected as parents as a result of experiencing abuse. “We’re asking women about what services they’ve used and how helpful they’ve been,” said Ursel, adding that many women use “informal agencies” for support. “We’d like to know where women are not using the sort of designated agencies, and where are they getting their help and support to try and achieve a violence-free life,” added Ursel. According to a snapshot survey called “Canada’s Shelters for Abused Women, 1999-2000,” on April 17, 2000, 254 women and 222 children were turned away from 89 shelters in Canada, and 71 per cent of the time it was because the shelter did not have space for them. “I’ve been working in this field since 1983,” said Ursel. “We’ve known that there are a lot of questions about how accessible services [are], and how helpful.” Currently the interviewing process is in the first wave of a total of seven; 120 women have already been recruited through agencies and organizations across the three provinces. However, Ursel noted that 80 more women are needed to participate in the confidential interviews before they can continue to the next stage of the project. “It’s been a little slower than anticipated,” said Ursel. Women who would like to participate in the study and who have been in a 3-year-long violent relationship can contact Ann at 474-9349 or Jocelyn at 474-7410. An honorarium is provided. More on violence against women Chelsea Moore This data is taken from a report entitled “Assessing Violence Against Women: A Statistical Profile,” prepared in 1999 by a joint commission of ministers representing women provincially and territorially, as well as federally, using data commissioned from Statistics Canada. In 1993, 51 per cent of women had been either sexually or physically assaulted at least once since they were 16; 60 per cent of these women had been assaulted more than once. 25 per cent of these women were assaulted by a spouse or former spouse; 16 per cent were the victim of a dating partner; 23 per cent were abused by male acquaintances; and 23 per cent were abused by strangers. Women under the age of 25 face the highest rates of physical and sexual abuse. Women who are discriminated against are more likely to face violence and have a harder time accessing services than women who are not. omen experience far more sexual and spousal assaults than men, and receive injuries that are more serious, both physically and psychologically. In the context of spousal assault, women are beaten twice as often as men, are choked five times as often and are nearly 50 per cent more likely to be stabbed or shot. 66 per cent of women who face spousal assaults encounter violence more than once; 25 to 33 per cent of these women have experienced abuse more than 10 times. Aboriginal women experience spousal assault twice as often as Aboriginal men, and three times as often as both men and women who are not Aboriginal.


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