Abused women who abuse their children: A critical review of the literature

This article critically reviews current knowledge on abused women who abuse their children. First, the stage is set by examining the history of handling this sensitive issue by the battered women's movement and child welfare services, pointing at its marginalization by both scholars and practitioners. Then the empirical research on this phenomenon is presented, following by a discussion of why this scholarship is so limited. The article concludes by outlining a proposal for an alternative feminist scholarship on this topic.

Research highlights► There is a controversy about the etiology of abused women's abuse of their children. ► It is often seen as related to women's victimization and as temporary and situational. ► Research suggests it is increasing or commencing following domestic violence. ► Yet, it may also be related to women's developmental history and attachment style. ► Feminist researchers may avoid this issue due to socio-political factors.