Not Going Back

In a feminist grounded theory study of rural survivors, the authors discovered reclaiming self as the four-stage, social psychological process for women leaving and not returning to abusive conjugal relationships. Not going back, the third stage, is a process of sustaining the separation over time by claiming and maintaining territory and relentless justifying. Much of the current research has focused on the intra- and interpersonal processes of surviving in the relationship, preparing to leave, and managing the initial crises of leaving. This article contributes to existing literature by explaining the complex social processes involved in not going back and may provide guidance for professional and lay helper interventions during this critical period.