This article explores what safety means to women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). From a feminist relational lens, we explore data from in-depth, narrative interviews with women who experienced severe IPV and perspectives of family and friends of those who were killed, to identify experiences that feel safe and those that do not. Other research focuses on ways and factors that enhance safety, whereas ours allows the exploration of differences in what makes someone feel safe. We argue that criminal justice interventions are perceived negatively due to their transactional nature, whereas shelters and informal supports are relational.
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