Breaking Free: One Adolescent Woman’s Recovery from Dating Violence Through Creative Dance

Abstract

Dating violence against adolescent women can devastate their health and longterm quality of life. While high school programs have been developed to address this worldwide epidemic, somatic antidotes are still not widely utilized despite evidence from the psychophysiology of relational violence trauma that there is an inextricable link between the body and mind and effective recovery requires a holistic approach. Creative dance, derived from dance education, can support female adolescent trauma victims of dating violence to reconnect with physical, mental, and emotional experiences that were severed during traumatic exposure. This qualitative arts-based case study narratively explores one adolescent woman's experience of creative dance as an intervention for survivors of dating violent relationships. Conceptually, I draw from dance education, Authentic Movement, and Amber Gray's Restorative Movement Psychotherapy. A feminist lens is utilized in an attempt to address calls to action from previous DMT researchers to tackle oppressive structural forces and increase activism in dance/movement therapy. Findings show that inner-directed dance can therapeutically facilitate restoration after trauma by recovering the social engagement system and decision-making capacity, reducing social isolation, and increasing bodily self-awareness, and self-esteem.

Coping with violence against women in relationships: exploring the impact of informal supports, self-care activities, and personal attributes on resiliency

“…For women who have experienced intimate partner violence, self-care activities such as exercise could facilitate introspection, an outlet for anger, and the processing of strong emotions; it may also provide an avenue for additional social supports, reduced muscle tension, improved sleep, and, an enhanced self-esteem (Edwards, 2006). Similar findings were noted in Margolin's (2019) case study on creative dance, which highlighted the renewal of the mind-body connection, in addition to momentarily distracting and distancing the participant from the pain of their abusive circumstances. Spending time in nature or green-spaces has also been associated with similar benefits; however, feelings of well-being can also be attained by admiring and tending to house plants, viewing urban gardens, or, by spending time in the wilderness (Fuller et al, 2013).…”

“…I met my abusive ex-partner in high school, at sixteen, but had managed to end the relationship after two years. He was a year younger than me, classifying my experience as Dating Violence Against Adolescent Women by Adolescent Men (DVAAWBAM; Margolin, 2019). For the most part, we just dated, but near the end of the relationship we had briefly cohabitated when he became homeless.…”

“…To distinguish this sect of survivors from their adult counterparts, Margolin (2019) coined the terms Dating Violence Against Adolescent Women (DVAAW) and Dating Violence Against Adolescent Women by Adolescent Men (DVAAWBAM). For many men (and women), dating may be "… an opportunity to discover a new arena in which to exercise power (Ambert, 2012, p. 381)" and subsequent abuse presents as an invisible, social issue (McDaniel & Tepperman, 2011).…”

“…Misguided by culture, media, and family of origin structures, they may also feel that "… the job of feminine love is to tame monsters…" (Rosen & Bezold, 1996, as cited in Margolin, 2019. Dating violence is rarely reported or talked about; however, it is estimated that twenty to thirty percent of young, North American women are survivors of violence in relationships (Ambert, 2012;Margolin, 2019). Additionally, the shame felt by survivors of violence against women in relationships (VAWIR) may be further compounded by young women's unique vulnerabilities, such as inexperience, physical insecurities due to puberty and the social pressure to be in a relationship (Margolin, 2019).…”

“…There are few studies on self-care activities and their effect on abused women; however, six articles were found pertaining specifically to violence against women in relationships (VAWIR), along with several others regarding the benefits of certain activities on overall health. Literature specific to violence against women in relationships has demonstrated the positive psychological effects of meditation (Kane, 2006), expressive writing (Classen et al, 2005), art therapy (Riley, 2014), creative dance (Margolin, 2019), music (Miner, 2015), engaging in one's faith (Cummings & Pargament, 2010), and, spending time with animal companions (Flynn, 2000) on the well-being female victims of abuse. For example, religion plays an integral role in the lives of many people, offering resilience in the face of life stressors, a network of social supports, a sense of belonging, and, a source of emotional relief (Cummings & Pargament, 2010).…”