Navigating Protective Precarity: A Thematic Analysis of Civil Protective Orders and Child Custody for Maternal Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

This study explores the experiences of 18 maternal intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors seeking protection through civil courts. The mothers described a core experience of navigating protective precarity—the juxtaposition of seeking protection yet experiencing increased vulnerability. Three themes of navigating protective precarity include (i) fathers’ rights versus survivors’ safety; (ii) constrained survivor agency, and (iii) systemic unshielding. Paradoxical system responses leave adult and child survivors vulnerable to additional harm. We discuss how these findings can inform policies and system change that centers adult and child safety and well-being.