This study is based on in-depth interviews with 21 women who were past residents of a shelter for battered women in Cape Town, South Africa. It documents the difficulties the women experienced when separating from the batterer, going to the shelter, and starting a new life. The women identify the shelter as a catalyst in transforming their lives. Although the study was limited to a specific sample of battered women, the authors believe the findings may have wider applications. Recommendations include the provision of shelters, bridging and counseling services, as well as the social and legal recognition of battering as a crime.
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