A way forward with intersectionality: An integrative review of women’s experiences with intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence is uniquely posited as both a public health challenge and an affront to human rights that spares no social group with women, as victims, constitute two thirds of all instances worldwide. Intimate partner violence is a ‘wicked’ problem that requires an upstream approach that demonstrates awareness of the multitude of intersections experienced by women. This study utilized an integrative review methodology to examine the application of intersectionality as a framework to women’s experiences of intimate partner violence. The search identified primary research papers from five databases during March 2022 and April 2024. A total of 3123 articles were distilled into a final five articles. The major themes included: (a) returning to the roots of intersectionality; (b) intersections of women’s lived experience; and (c) intersections with intimate partner violence. The need for an intersectional approach to IPV is agreed upon and, given the urgency of this issue, the findings establish a way forward for intersectional research and presents connections between intersectionality and IPV. This integrative review underscores the critical need for integrating intersectionality into both research and interventions to address intimate partner violence, ensuring that responses are inclusive, nuanced, and effectively tailored to the diverse realities of women’s lived experiences.