Women Survivors' Experiences of the Intersection of Abuse and Work

Francis Guenette

Authors

Francis Guenette University of Victoria

Keywords:

Women, survivors, abuse, work, experiences

Abstract

Abuse creates barriers that effect women’s ability to enter the paid work force: barriers that persist long after initial supports have been exhausted. The present paper examines the questions: how do women make meaning of the ways in which they have experienced the intersection of abuse and work after
they have been away from abusive experiences for a period? Five women volunteered for extensive one-on-one interviews employing a narrative methodology. The long-term affects of abuse experiences resulting in loss of mental and physical health, educational and work experiences, self-esteem and self-efficacy, voice and emotional support, and loss of a sense of safety in the world was a major across participant theme. Additional themes included
readiness for change, housing issues, and working for change with other women. Implications for career counselling practice, from the perspective of a social constructivist career theory, emphasize counselling in the context of women’s whole lives, the importance of hearing women’s stories of abuse, understanding the nature of complex trauma and the need for long-term targeted support in employment programs.

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