This study began with the recognition of the urgent necessity of policy and practical intervention methods to help women victims of family violence to lead independent lives through enhancement of their sense of self-reliance. The purpose of this study is to identify the level of the sense of self-reliance of women victims of family violence and analyze the effects of gender role attitudes, which are the personal factors, and the sense of community, which is a social and environmental factor, on their sense of self-reliance, thereby to seek for a way of promoting their sense of self-reliance based on the results of this study.
The subjects of this study were a total of 180 women victims of family violence in 9 counseling centers and 14 protection facilites located all over the nation, and we conducted a survey on them from January 14 to February 28, 2019, and collected data using purposeful sampling method based on our many years of experience and networks. For data analysis in the study, we used SPSS 21.0 as well as frequency analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, and correlation analysis. In order to examine the relationship between each factor and the sense of self-reliance, we also conducted hierarchical regression analysis.
The results of this study are as follows; First, we analyzed whether there were significant differences in gender role attitude factor, sense of community factor, and sense of self-reliance sub-factor according to personal characteristics of women victims of family violence. The analysis result showed high level of the sense of self-reliance, which suggests the necessity of the change in social welfare support policy that can increase the self-reliance of women victims of family violence through a long-term and systematic awareness improvement and a change of awareness about violence rather than short-term and temporary support. The analysis result also suggests the necessity of the establishment of practical intervention methods that can change the role expectations of the women victims in the community and the family. In addition, it was found that the sense of self-reliance according to personal characteristics of the women victims of family violence was significantly different depending on their educational background and experience of their present and past jobs (regular job). When the women victims have higher education level, they are more likely to have regular and professional jobs with sufficient human capital and social networks. When they have jobs, they can have their own income and are highly likely to be financially independent using their wide social networks even without the help form their husbands. This is why they showed high level of the sense of self-reliance.
Second, it was found that the gender role attitudes of the women victims influenced their confidence, self-control, and motivation to work, which are the sub-factors of self-reliance. In other words, if they had an attitude of gender equality, they pursued proactive and independent role of women. In addition, it was found that the sense of community of the women victims influenced their confidence, self-control, and motivation to work, which are the sub-factors of self-reliance, which indicates that the women victims who have experienced family violence consider it as the best important element to ensure friendly and safe environment of the local community to continue their daily lives because they fear that they may be victimized again by the crimes.
Based on the above results of this study, we would like to make a few suggestions to enhance the sense of self-reliance of the women victims of family violence as follows;
First, the women victims of family violence showed high level of the sense of self-reliance, which suggests that a long-term and full support policy is needed in order to improve their sense of self-reliance according to their diverse individual experiences and needs. Currently, the programs and support policies for improvement of the sense of self-reliance of women victims of family violence are limited to the victimized women living in protection facilities, and. most of them are temporary short-term programs and support policies. In addition, if they leave the facilities, all the supports are suspended. Therefore, national policies or projects that consider the personal situations as well as community networks should be established so that all women victims of family violence can gradually improve their sense of self-reliance throughout their life cycle in safe environment guaranteed by the nation and make mid-to-long term plans for their self-reliance.
Second, it was found that the gender role attitudes had the greatest influence on the sense of self-reliance of the women victims of family violence. The gender role attitudes were revealed through individual women, but they were internalized and strengthened through social influence. Therefore, feminism counseling or feministic consciousness improvement group education programs need to be activated so that the women victims can have equal gender role attitudes. In addition, gender-equality policies, projects, and training also need to be implemented so that the society as a whole can have equal gender role attitudes.
Third, because it was found that the sense of community had a significant effect on the sense of self-reliance of the women victims of family violence, a friendly and supportive cooperation system in their local community needs to be established to consolidate their sense of self-reliance. This suggests that, in order to secure residential and social safety network for the women victims, the role of the community police, which can protect the human rights of the victims and prevent crimes, should be emphasized.