ABSTRACT
This chapter describes mothers' emotional and behavioural responses in the aftermath of the abuse of their children to unravel the multiple determining factors that influenced such responses. Drawing on the findings, the paradigm of divided loyalty is employed as a conceptual framework for analysing important facets of the emotional experiences of mothers. The chapter argues that to appreciate the feelings evoked for mothers in the aftermath of abuse, conceptually understanding divided loyalty as a key component in mothers' emotions provides important glimpses into the contradictions and ambiguities embodied in their emotion. In thinking about the cognitive dissonance embodied in mothers' emotional responses it is important to be aware of the many factors that interplay for black mothers. A noteworthy finding is that a constraining factor on mothers' abilities to seek emotional and practical support was internalisation of the "strong black woman" image.
