Staying : A qualitative study on the maintaining factors that is depicted in women's narratives of intimate partner violence.

Men's violence against women in close relationships is a societal problem on a global level that occurs both worldwide and in Sweden. The violent actions happen for the most part in the home, making it a problem that is well-hidden. Which means there is a need for more knowledge about men's violence against women in close relationships, to increase the chances of identifying, managing and solving the societal problem. The aim of this essay is to investigate which factors contribute to women staying in violent relationships by focusing on the external factors together with the physiological and emotional factors. A qualitative approach as the methodology has been used through autobiographies written by seven women. Two theoretical theories have been used in this study, “Gender” and “Sociology of emotions”. The results of the study shows that the external factors that showed themselves in women's autobiographies were children, economy and social support. The physiological and emotional factors that showed themselves in women's autobiographies were hope, love, shame and guilt.