Peripheral Embodiment: Polish Women Rebuilding Their Lives After Domestic Violence Through Their Bodies

Abstract

In deeply Catholic Poland, domestic violence (DV) is often denied, downplayed, or justified, hindering its recognition as a pressing societal issue. This study addresses the scarcity of research on the experiences and recovery of Polish women from DV. Through feminist interviews with 13 women in Norway and Poland who survived DV, our findings reveal a complex entanglement of embodied experiences with history, religion, society, and gender hierarchies during their recovery processes. Participants emphasized the significance of “body works,” such as running and using makeup, as essential for empowerment and regaining control of their battered bodies and minds.