This article proposes that women's willingness to reveal violent relationships and to participate in family violence services is influenced by the totality of their life experiences and circumstances. Services that are responsive to broader issues and conditions that underlie women's options and choices will reach and help more women. Suggestions are made for designing programs that are informed by women's reality and respond to their priorities, assure that services are reasonable and accessible, embrace racial and ethnic diversity, and create paths to employment that pays living wages.
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