Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.

Alonya

Alonya survived two relationships with men who were controlling and physically abusive. She stayed with her first partner for seven years after which she fled back to her home country with her daughter. A year later, back in the UK Alonya met and married her second partner but left after 18 months, following threats to her life. Alonya has struggled to find independence as she had a spouse visa and still experiences ongoing harassment from her ex-husband.

  • Background

    a 31 year old British woman originally from Eastern Europe. She lives in a Housing Association flat with her nine year old daughter, and works part-time as an office co-ordinator.

  • Age at interview 31
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Charlotte

    Charlotte experienced years of emotional abuse during her marriage to a clever bully'. Although the relationship ended three years ago, her ex continues to affect her life, and at the time of interview, Charlotte was signed off sick from work due to the continuing stress and upset caused by his behaviour. (Video clips read by a professional.)

  • Background

    Charlotte is a White British woman who lives in her privately owned home. She has three daughters, aged 11, 15 and 16 years and she works part-time as a teacher.

  • Age at interview 38
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Sue

    18 months ago Sue's 20 month relationship with a controlling and sexually abusive man ended. She previously survived a marriage of ten years to a man who was verbally and physically abusive. She became very frightened of him and fled when she realised the impact his behaviour was having on her children. Following years of isolation she received help from her GP and mental health services, to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She felt consistently let down by lack of support from the police.

  • Background

    Sue is a 52 year old white British woman, divorced and living with her son aged 20, in the home of an elderly relative for whom Sue is the full-time...

  • Age at interview 52
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Shaina

    Shaina made friends with a local Caribbean man and their relationship developed over two years. Following the birth of her first child, she endured ten year of violent behaviour from her partner who used drugs, engaged in numerous affairs with male partners and smashed up their house. Shaina talks about a general lack of awareness of domestic violence and a consistent lack of support from the police. She finally received help when her GP referred her to the local Domestic Violence and Abuse Agency.

  • Background

    Shaina is a 32 year old single woman with mixed French and Mauritian origin. She lives in a privately rented house with her three children aged ten, eight and six...

  • Age at interview 32
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Khalida

    Khalida spent 33 years in a marriage characterised by controlling behaviour, physical, emotional and financial abuse from her Pakistani-born husband. They met as teenagers and were married secretly in defiance of Khalida's parents who had arranged her marriage to a relative in Pakistan. From her third pregnancy onwards, Khalida shared' her husband with a second wife; a woman that her husband secretly married under Islamic Law (a Nikar'). (Video clips read by a professional.)

  • Background

    Khalida left Pakistan aged six to settle in the UK with her parents. Now aged 58, she is separated from her husband, living in temporary council accommodation with her youngest...

  • Age at interview 58
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Victoria

    Victoria met her ex-partner in 2011, and during the 15 month relationship, she experienced on-going and subtle emotional - psychological abuse which affected her self-esteem and confidence. Since leaving in 2012, Victoria is trying to move on and to once again find her inner peace'. (Video clips read by a professional.)

  • Background

    Victoria is a white British woman who lives in a privately rented home with her son, aged three. She works part-time as a support worker and at the time of...

  • Age at interview 42
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Nessa

    From the age of 17 Nessa was in an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship with her children's father. She also experienced physical abuse from a subsequent partner. Although the marks on her skin from the violent attacks she endured have faded, the psychological effects of the emotional abuse continue to impact on her sense of self.

  • Background

    Nessa, a full-time mother, lives in a council rented property with her two children aged two and four. She is a single woman of mixed ethnic background (White and Black...

  • Age at interview 22
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Ana

    Ana travelled to the UK aged 17 to work as an au pair. She met her partner through mutual friends and they soon started living together at his mother's house. They married and had two children. Her husband controlled her behaviour and isolated her, and Ana endured eight years of verbal and physical abuse until she got a UK residency card when she was able to flee to a women's refuge with the help of the police and Women's Aid. (Video clips played by an actor.)

  • Background

    Ana is white European and divorced. She has been living with her new non-abusive partner for one year, with her two children aged eight and ten years, in a rented...

  • Age at interview 32
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Kanya

    Kanya met her husband when he was on holiday in Thailand. He returned to Thailand to marry her and the couple settled in England with Kanya's nine year old son from a previous relationship. After five happy years, Kanya endured years of verbal and financial abuse from her husband who lost his job, drank heavily and controlled her behaviour. She eventually fled, alone, to a women's refuge and then to a flat where her elder son joined her.

  • Background

    Kanya is a 41 year old Thai woman, separated from her English husband after ten years of marriage. She lives with her adult son in a council flat. Her younger...

  • Age at interview 41
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Liz

    Liz is now divorced from her second husband who subjected her to physical abuse, controlling behaviour and harassment, as well as abusing their daughter aged seven. Liz did not recognise his behaviour as domestic abuse, since she grew up in a household where physical violence was prevalent. Liz is keen to increase awareness of domestic violence and abuse by speaking out in her workplace and through other networks and is keen to see better support services in place.

  • Background

    Liz is a 46 year old, white British woman who is divorced and lives in her own home with her three children and stepson. She works full-time as a Tax...

  • Age at interview 46
  • Sex/Gender Female