Children in situations of domestic violence. Social work confronts the difficulties of helping women victims of domestic violence and their children

How are mothers who are victims of domestic violence, and their children, cared for socially and institutionally ? Based on a qualitative survey of social professionals (social workers, psychologists, specialized educators), feminist professionals and, to a lesser extent, legal professionals (lawyers, judges, prosecutors), this article highlights the “double penalty” suffered by victimized mothers, due to a family justice system that conceals domestic violence and its impact on children, ultimately benefiting fathers who know how to play the institutional game. While social workers are becoming better trained in the specificities of supporting victimized mothers, their day-to-day work remains largely constrained by what can best be described as patriarchal law.