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Twenty workers are murdered each week in the U.S., and an
estimated 18,000 workers per week are victims of nonfatal
assault at the workplace (NIOSH, 2001). Homicide is the
leading cause of death among U.S. women in the workplace (Simonowitx
et al., 1997). Sixteen percent of workplace homicides are
perpetrated by an intimate partner (NIOSH, 2001).
Workplace violence places many workers at risk. Women who
are in low wage positions are often subject to sexual
harassment by employers, bosses, and other employees due to
their vulnerable position and need for a job. In two
studies, women reported abuse at their place of employment.
They reported that they endured the abuse due to the need
for a job to retain custody of their children (Hatton,
2002), or that they left their job because of recurring
memories of childhood/adolescent abuse that resulted from
the circumstances of the workplace (Anderson & Imle, 2001).
The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences
of workplace violence in the lives of homeless women and
women residing in domestic violence shelters. Qualitative
data on violence at the worksite will be collected via
in-depth interviews with a purposive sample. The research
participants will answer open-ended questions about
workplace violence.
The findings of this study will assist in the development
of an R01 proposal to be submitted to NIOSH to more fully
examine the issues of workplace violence toward women who
work in low-wage positions. Ultimately, the data will be
used in the development of interventions to decrease the
risk of exposure to violence in the workplace.
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