“Like Opening Up Old Wounds”: Conceptualizing Intersectional Trauma Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Despite increasing acknowledgment of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a potentially traumatic experience, there is a gap in research investigating women’s perspectives of trauma related to their experiences of IPV from an intersectional lens. Intersectionality, which illuminates interconnected inequalities due to constructions of race, gender, sexuality, class, and culture, is particularly important for exploring the broader contexts of women’s experiences of IPV and trauma. In response to this dearth in research, this paper presents qualitative findings from a constructivist grounded theory study of 15 women’s experiences of IPV and trauma. To conceptualize IPV-related trauma from an intersectional lens, this study addressed the following research questions: (a) How do women who have experienced IPV understand and view trauma? (b) What do women who have experienced IPV indicate are experiences of trauma? and (c) How do women’s differing identities, experiences of oppression, or other hardships or adversities relate to their experiences of IPV? Through analysis, six distinct themes were identified: (a) changing perceptions of trauma; (b) the pain of trauma; (c) fear, anxiety, and triggers; (d) lasting impact of trauma; (e) struggle for acceptance; and (f) growth and insight. Implications from these findings illustrate the pervasiveness of IPV and other forms of trauma among women who have been abused by a partner, the long-lasting traumatic impacts of IPV, and the multiple experiences of being blamed and not believed that many women have experienced. These findings represent first steps in understanding the relationship between IPV and trauma from the perspectives of women who have survived IPV, offering an important contribution to previous knowledge on IPV. As well, this study provides first steps in understanding the interacting, intersectional effects of multiple forms of adversity, oppression, and IPV, and their relationships to trauma.

Psychological therapies for women who experience intimate partner violence

“…Women exposed to IPV o en also su er from low self-esteem and hopelessness (Papadakaki 2009). There is growing awareness of the wide range of negative mental health symptoms associated with experience of IPV, including the understanding of the term complex trauma (Baird 2019;Courtois 2012;Hermann 1992). Given this high prevalence of mental health problems in women exposed to IPV, there is a potential for psychological therapies to improve women's mental health functioning.…”

Reflections From Applying Intersectionality to a Constructivist Grounded Theory Study on Intimate Partner Violence and Trauma

“…The diversity among the women’s experiences helped me to focus on each of their unique experiences, rather than viewing their experiences as representing a certain identity category. For instance, while women identified different regions or countries of birth (Africa, Canada/North America, Europe, Central/South America, Middle East), and different spiritual backgrounds (Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, no spiritual identification) (Baird et al, 2019, 2020), it was the connections between these experiences that I focused on, rather than identity categories.…”

“…This approach is in line with McCall’s (2005) anticategorical intersectional approach which views categories as socially constructed and challenges the view that a category represents all groups. In my analysis, it was crucial to investigate connections between oppressions based on certain categories and perspectives of categories, and their relationships to IPV and trauma, and to realize these connections did not represent a particular identity (Baird et al, 2019). For women describing oppression related to identifying as queer or as a newcomer, for instance, analysis focused on links between these experiences and IPV and trauma.…”

“…This paper aims to add to the literature by describing my process of applying an intersectional lens to constructivist grounded theory (CGT) methodology, through my dissertation on women’s experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and trauma (Baird et al, 2019, 2020). This paper discusses (a) methodological challenges associated with conducting an intersectional, CGT study; (b) dilemmas related to recruiting and interviewing women about trauma; and (c) recommendations for future intersectional qualitative research.…”

Picking up the pieces: psychological therapies for women who experience intimate partner violence

“…The review mentions that there is an increasing awareness of the negative effects of IPV on victims' long-term mental health and that there is a growing understanding of the term 'complex trauma' (Hermann 1992;Courtois 2012;Baird 2019). However, it does not elaborate or define this term.…”