A thesis submitted for examination to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work. Available for loan from Victoria University Library.

This thesis analyses the meanings that seven women attached to their relationships with social workers as they attempted to liberate themselves from violent and oppressive relationships with men. The author examines what the participants define as liberation and argues that women cannot be free from violence in a society where male violence against women is so prevalent, and where the media condones the domination of women. The author concludes that if social workers and social policy makers are to succeed in assisting the liberation of women, they must not only help women leave abusive relationships, but tackle the issue at a structural level, including education in schools, media campaigns discouraging the tolerance of violence, banning pornography and other media representations of women in oppressive roles, and making economic resources available to enable women to escape from abusers and still sustain their livelihood.

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