Purpose <p>Research shows that women’s decisions to leave abusive partners are shaped by many factors, with family support playing a key role. However, this support is often influenced by cultural norms, such as stigma or shame surrounding separation. This article explores how such cultural expectations shaped family solidarity toward women leaving abusive partners.</p> Methods <p>This qualitative study drew on the experiences of nine women from diverse cultural backgrounds who were raised with the belief that separation is undesirable. It also includes insights from 15 social workers at a Dutch shelter.</p> Results <p>Most women shared that they initially received limited support from their families. Responses ranged from pressure to obey their husbands to relatives seeking compromise with in-laws. Only later did some relatives fully support the survivor’s decision. The limited support was largely due to cultural expectations discouraging separation. In cases where women reached shelters without family support, social workers stepped in to help mediate and rebuild family ties.</p> Conclusions <p>We conclude that the women’s experiences suggest that the societal view that separation is shameful led families to initially withhold support. Often, support came only after all reconciliation attempts failed. In some cases, one relative emerged as a key source of support. Early interventions should aim to identify and empower such individuals to promote family solidarity before women reach shelter services.</p>