Abstract
This paper aims to understand how professionals view non-offending mothers in cases of incest. Its data is based on a larger qualitative research project with 98 professionals in Turkey, including both frontline workers and those who join the process after the disclosure of abuse and are contacted professionally in incest cases. In spite of the differences in their views, the interviewed professionals have acknowledged the critical role of the mother in various phases of incest from disclosure of abuse to the treatment of the victim. However, they have also pointed out the insufficiencies and ambivalences of the mothers in terms of dealing properly with incest by underlining their economic and social vulnerability. The results reflected that the mothers need to be perceived in another light, understood better and empowered according to their needs to become vital partners within the support system combating incestuous abuse.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abu Baker, K., & Dwairy, M. (2003). Cultural norms versus state law in treating incest: a suggested model for Arab families. Child Abuse & Neglect, 27, 109–123. doi:10.1016/S0145-2134(02)00505-7.
Aile ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Genel Müdürlüğü. (2010). Türkiye’de aile değerleri araştırması [Family values in Turkey]. Ankara: Manas Medya Reklam Hizmetleri.
Alaggia, R. (2002). Cultural and religious influences in maternal response to intrafamilial child sexual abuse: charting new territory for research and treatment. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 2, 41–60. doi:10.1300/J070v10n02_03.
Atılmış, U. U., Gündüz, T., Karbeyaz, K., Balcı, Y., & Oral, R. (2008). Ensest şüphesi içeren bir olguda tanı güçlüğü [Difficulty in diagnosis of a case with high suspicion of incest: Case Report]. Türkiye Klinikleri Adli Tıp Dergisi, 5, 156–161.
Aydın, B., & Çolak, B. (2004). Samsun’da ağır ceza mahkemesine yansıyan cinsel suçlar [Sex crimes tried at the High Criminal Court in Samsun]. Adli Tıp Bülteni, 9, 11–18.
Bolen, R. M., & Lamb, J. L. (2007). Can non-offending mothers of sexually abused children be both ambivalent and supportive? Child Maltreatment, 12, 191–197. doi:10.1177/1077559507300132.
Breckenridge, J., & Baldry, E. (1997). Workers dealing with mother blame in child sexual assault cases. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 1, 66–80. doi:10.1300/J070v06n01_04.
Briere, J., & Elliot, D. M. (1993). Sexual abuse, family environment and psychological symptoms: on the validity of statistical control. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2, 284–288. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.61.2.284.
Candib, L. M. (1999). Incest and other harms to daughters across cultures: maternal complicity and patriarchal power. Women’s Studies International Forum, 2, 185–201. doi:10.1016/S0277-5395(99)00006-0.
Cantürk, G., & Cantürk, N. (2006). Cinsel saldırı mağdurlarının muayene prosedürü [Examination procedure of sexual assault victims]. Cerrahi Tıp Bilimleri Acil Tıp Dergisi, 2(50), 49–55.
Çavlin-Bozbeyoğlu, A. (2009). Understanding the problem of incest in Turkey. Ankara: UNFPA and Population Association.
Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory. London: Sage.
Charmaz, K. (2009). Shifting the grounds, constructivist grounded theory methods. In J. M. Morse, P. N. Stern, J. Corbin, B. Bowers, A. E. Clarke, & K. Charmaz (Eds.), Developing grounded theory: The second generation. Walnut Creek: Left Coast Press.
Corbin, J. M. (1998). Alternative interpretations: valid or not? Theory & Psychology, 8, 121–128. doi:10.1177/0959354398081007.
Corbin, J. (2009). Taking an analytic journey. In J. M. Morse, P. N. Stern, J. Corbin, B. Bowers, A. E. Clarke, & K. Charmaz (Eds.), Developing grounded theory: The second generation. Walnut Creek: Left Coast Press.
Crawford, S. L. (1999). Intrafamilial sexual abuse: what we think we know about mothers and implications for intervention. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 3, 55–72. doi:10.1300/J070v07n03_04.
De Young, M. (1994). Women as mothers and wives in paternally incestuous families: coping with role conflict. Child Abuse & Neglect, 1, 73–83. doi:10.1016/0145-2134(94)90097-3.
Demirci, S., Doğan, K. H., Erkol, Z., & Deniz, I. (2008). Konya’da cinsel istismar yönünden muayenesi yapılan çocuk olguların değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of child cases examined for sexual abuse in Konya]. Türkiye Klinikleri Adli Tıp Dergisi, 5, 43–49.
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Chicago: Aldine.
Goretsky, S. E., & Smith, B. E. (1992). The controversial role of the non-offending parent in child sexual abuse cases. Children’s Legal Rights Journal, 18, 18–22.
Goulding, C. (1999). Grounded theory: Some reflections on paradigm, procedures and misconceptions [Working Paper No. WP006/99]. Retrieved from http://www.wlv.ac.uk/PDF/uwbs_WP006-99%20Goulding.pdf
Gunduz, T., Karbeyaz, K., & Ayranci, U. (2011). Evaluation of the adjudicated incest cases in Turkey: difficulties in notification of incestuous relationships. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 56, 438–443. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01662.x.
Jacobs, J. L. (1990). Reassessing mother blame in incest. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 3, 500–514. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3174425.
Joyce, P. A. (1997). Mothers of sexually abused children and the concept of collusion: a literature review. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 2, 75–92. doi:10.1300/J070v06n02_05.
Joyce, P. A. (2007). The production of therapy: the social process of construction of the mother of a sexually abused child. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 3, 1–18. doi:10.1300/J070v16n03_01.
Kadının Statüsü Genel Müdürlüğü. (2009). Türkiye’de Kadına Yönelik Aile İçi Şiddet Araştırması [Domestic violence against women in Turkey]. Ankara: Elma Teknik Basım.
Kadının Statüsü Genel Müdürlüğü. (2012). Türkiye’de kadının durumu [The status of women in Turkey]. Retrieved from http://www.kadininstatusu.gov.tr/upload/mce/trde_kadin_2012_ekim.pdf
Kagitcibasi, C. (2002). Cross-cultural perspectives on family change. In R. Liljeström & E. Ozdalga (Eds.), Transactions: Autonomy and dependence in the family (Vol. 11, pp. 19–38). Istanbul: Swedish Research Institute.
Kardam, F., & Yüksel, I. (2009). Kadına yönelik aile içi şiddet: Sayıların ardındaki anlatılar [Perceptions about violence against women: Qualitative research results]. In Kadının Statüsü Genel Müdürlüğü (Ed.), Türkiye’de Kadına Yönelik Aile İçi Şiddet Araştırması [Domestic violence against women in Turkey] (pp. 103–185). Ankara: Elma Teknik Basım.
Kim, K., Noll, J. G., Putnam, F. W., & Trickett, P. K. (2007). Psychosocial characteristics of non-offending mothers of sexually abused girls: findings from a prospective multigenerational study. Child Maltreatment, 12, 338–351. doi:10.1177/1077559507305997.
Kim, K., Noll, J. G., Putnam, F. W., & Trickett, P. K. (2010). Childhood experiences of sexual abuse and later parenting practices among non-offending mothers of sexually abused and comparison girls. Child Abuse & Neglect, 34, 610–622. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2010.01.007.
Koverola, C. (2007). Perpetuating mother-blaming rhetoric: a commentary. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 1, 137–143. doi:10.1300/J070v16n01_09.
Lafleur, C. T. (2009). Mothers’ reactions to disclosures of sibling sexual abuse. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2097/1370
Plummer, C. A. (2006). The discovery process: what mothers see and do in gaining awareness of the sexual abuse of their children. Child Abuse & Neglect, 11, 1227–1237. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.05.007.
Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (1995). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data. London: Sage.
Strauss, A. L., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Tamraz, D. N. (1997). Non-offending mothers of sexually abused children: comparison of opinions and research. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 4, 75–104. doi:10.1300/J070v05n04_05.
Turkish Statistical Institute. (2011). Women in statistics 2011. Ankara: Turkish Statistical Institute Printing Division.
Womack, M. E., Miller, G., & Lassiter, P. (1999). Helping mothers in incestuous families. Women and Therapy, 4, 17–34. doi:10.1300/J015v22n04_02.
World Health Organization. (2004). Preventing violence: A guide to implementing the recommendations of the World Report on Violence and Health. Geneva: Author.
World Health Organization. (2005). Multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women. Geneva: Author.
Acknowledgments
This study is based on data from a larger research project, “Understanding the Problem of Incest in Turkey,” which was funded by the United Nations Population Fund and conducted by the Population Association, Turkey. We would like to thank the research team and the professionals interviewed for their participation and Alanur Çavlin-Bozbeyoğlu for her encouragement and support for this study. We intend this research to benefit victims of incest and their mothers.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kardam, F., Bademci, E. Mothers in Cases of Incest in Turkey: Views and Experiences of Professionals. J Fam Viol 28, 253–263 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9495-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9495-z