Institutional Solidarity in The Netherlands: Examining the Role of Dutch Policies in Women with Migration Backgrounds’ Decisions to Leave a Violent Relationship

Chloé Roegiers (Mayeux) (), Sawitri Saharso, Evelien Tonkens and Jonathan Darling
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Chloé Roegiers (Mayeux): Chair Group of Citizenship and Humanisation of the Public Sector, University of Humanistic Studies, 3512 HD Utrecht, The Netherlands
Sawitri Saharso: Chair Group of Citizenship and Humanisation of the Public Sector, University of Humanistic Studies, 3512 HD Utrecht, The Netherlands
Evelien Tonkens: Chair Group of Citizenship and Humanisation of the Public Sector, University of Humanistic Studies, 3512 HD Utrecht, The Netherlands
Jonathan Darling: Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK

Societies, 2023, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: In The Netherlands, women who experience domestic violence can rely on public policies that aim to support them, such as shelters. Drawing on the lived experiences, through 10 interviews and observations, of women with different cultural backgrounds and nationalities staying in a shelter, and on 37 interviews with social workers working with these women, we observed that this support falls short for them. We argue that immigration rules, together with policies on domestic violence and housing, (unintentionally) often work in tandem with violent partners to prevent women with migration backgrounds from leaving violent relationships. The paper draws on a perspective of institutional considerations of solidarity to unpack the relations between domestic violence, cultural constraints, and public policies but looks also at the positive experiences of women of migrant backgrounds with these Dutch policies. This research indicates that there is a lack of institutional solidarity towards women, especially those arriving as marriage migrants, who have experienced domestic violence. In exploring the intersections of domestic violence and often exclusionary state policies, the paper reflects on how The Netherlands can provide more support to those women and how intersectional justice and solidarity might be expressed.

Keywords: domestic violence; institutional solidarity; marriage migration; policy; The Netherlands; women (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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