There is a substantive body of research focusing on women's experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), but a lack of qualitative studies focusing on men's experiences as victims of IPV. This article addresses this gap in the literature by paying particular attention to hegemonic masculinities and men's perceptions of IPV. Men ( N = 9) participated in in-depth interviews. Interview data were rigorously subjected to thematic analysis, which revealed five key themes in the men's narratives: fear of IPV, maintaining power and control, victimization as a forbidden narrative, critical understanding of IPV, and breaking the silence. Although the men share similar stories of victimization as women, the way this is influenced by their gendered histories is different. While some men reveal a willingness to disclose their victimization and share similar fear to women victims, others reframe their victim status in a way that sustains their own power and control. The men also draw attention to the contextual realities that frame abuse, including histories of violence against the women who used violence and the realities of communities suffering intergenerational affects of colonized histories. The findings reinforce the importance of in-depth qualitative work toward revealing the context of violence, understanding the impact of fear, victimization, and power/control on men's mental health as well as the outcome of legal and support services and lack thereof. A critical discussion regarding the gendered context of violence, power within relationships, and addressing men's need for support without redefining victimization or taking away from policies and support for women's ongoing victimization concludes the work.
Widespread silence around cancer reflects both the limited access First Nations people have to formal, supportive programs and services, as well as the creative ways they provide emotional, social, and financial support within their informal networks. Beyond the support of their communities, they also required institutional provision of care that is culturally safe, addressing the colonial impacts on cancer communication and the disproportionate burdens of disease in First Nations communities.
Despite decades of research identifying the myriad causes and consequences, young women continue to be exposed to a variety of abuses in their dating relationships. Those who experience such violence often feel shame and isolation and hesitate to reach out for support for fear that their stories will not be heard, respected, or garner appropriate responses. Such abuse often results in grave consequences to well-being and quality of life, with the risk of exposure to one incident of abuse potentially leading to a cycle where young women may be repeatedly drawn to abusive relationships. Finding new ways to expose and disrupt this cycle of abuse in intimate relationships is critical. This article highlights the methods used, specifically an adapted version of digital storytelling as a potential empowerment research methodology with a small group of young women exposed to dating violence. Implementation of this methodology occurred in four phases: providing methodological context, preparing (setting the stage), implementing (constructing and sharing digital stories), and evaluating (experience and impact). Each phase of the methodology is described along with lessons learned to advance the innovative use of digital storytelling in anti-violence research.
Research on the effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on women demonstrates the significant physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual consequences of this form of interpersonal trauma. It is well documented that experiencing IPV can have devastating consequences to women's physical and mental health, overall well-being, and quality of life, as well as that of their children's. However, a small, predominantly qualitative body of research exists on women's experience of and capacity for healing from the effects of IPV, but more research is needed to advance theory and practice in this important area. This study applied secondary analysis to an existing data set to answer the question, "What are the themes of healing and posttraumatic growth in ten diverse women's narratives of IPV?" Lengthy, detailed interview transcripts were rigorously subjected to inductive and deductive thematic analysis, which revealed three overarching themes, and six subthemes, of healing and posttraumatic growth in women's narratives: Awareness and Insight (subthemes: Discerning the Self and Understanding Relationships), Renewal and Reconstruction (subthemes: [Re]building the Self and Redefining Relationships), and Transformation and Meaning (subthemes: New Perspectives and Finding Purpose Through Helping Others). Findings further revealed that women's healing from the effects of IPV involves a multidimensional, personalized, nonlinear, and often transformative process that operates within themselves and through relationships. Practitioners working with women who have experienced IPV should consider survivors' potential for healing and target appropriate intervention strategies. Additional qualitative and longitudinal research with diverse populations would deepen understanding of the dynamics, variables, and circumstances that impact healing and posttraumatic growth for women exposed to IPV.
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