Barriers that Prevent Women from Leaving or Telling (Adapted from St. Joseph's Women's Health Centre, 1996) Situational Barriers fear that, if she leaves or tells anyone of the abuse, she or her family will experience more violence, or possibly be killed shame and humiliation that this is happening to her financial control of her resources by the abuser fear that she will be unable to financially support herself and her children belief that children must have a father at all costs fear of "losing" her children immobilized by psychological and physical trauma hope that the abuser will change or she, herself, will become a "better" person belief that she "causes" the abuse fatigue from living under high and constant stress and erosion of self-esteem Community Response Barriers family/community/religious pressures to "keep the family together" fear of being ostracized from her home community fear of police involvement absence of family/community support systems lack of affordable housing, childcare, equal employment opportunities lives in isolation and has little or no knowledge of options/resources available lack of English language skills prevents her from accessing services and increases isolation lack of information about their rights and the law Cultural Barriers Belief that marriage is binding till death. Separation/divorce brings shame to the family and negatively impacts future relations. (eg. a divorced woman's siblings' prospects for marriage will be jeopardized.) Religious/cultural teachings which promote a subservient position for women. ("to love, honor and obey.") Guidance provided by community leaders whose understanding of woman abuse is informed by beliefs and values based on traditional female/male roles. (eg. a woman must try harder to be a good wife.) fear of jeopardizing Canadian status and being unaware of her rights as a refugee or newly landed immigrant and fear of police involvement fear of police involvement because of strained relations with the police/legal system here in Canada and/or in country of origin (eg. dictatorship)