Bringing My Whole Self to Work: A Grounded Theory Investigation of Survivor-advocates in Domestic Violence Agencies

• Main Author: Wilson, Joshua Mosquera
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Boston College 2019
• Subjects: Advocacy; Grounded theory; Intimate Partner Violence; Occupational stress; Resilience; Trauma
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:108400

Thesis advisor: Lisa A. Goodman === Recent research suggests that half or more of today’s domestic violence (DV) advocates are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) or other forms of abuse, consistent with the survivor-led early stages of the DV movement. Advocates who are themselves survivors (survivor-advocates) are at risk of experiencing vicarious trauma and other negative outcomes in response to their challenging work. Emerging research has also identified the possibility of deriving personal growth and healing from the work of advocacy, which bolster survivor-advocates against the stressors in their work. However, the processes by which survivor-advocates navigate their work and cope with its challenges are poorly understood. To date, only one qualitative study has asked survivor-advocates about their experiences. This study began illustrating some of the ways that survivor-advocates approach and experience their work; however, it is vital that we develop a richer understanding of how survivor-advocates experience their work as both healing and harmful, in order to maintain the sustainability and effectiveness of the services they provide. This study used grounded theory methodology to explore how survivor-advocates apply their survivorship to their work, and how their work influenced their well-being and recovery. The theoretical model that emerged was anchored by a central process called bringing my whole self to work, which participants described as consisting of four interrelated components: 1) constructing a personal narrative about how their identity connects to their work, 2) applying those connections to shape their work in numerous ways, 3) experiencing healing as an outcome of the previous two components and 4) the organizational contexts that shaped the process through validating or invalidating the survivor identity. Successfully engaging in this process helped survivor-advocates feel a greater sense of connection and integrity to their survivor identity and work, as well as possibly enhanced well-being. This process suggests numerous ways for DV organizations to encourage and support survivor-advocates to engage more openly, meaningfully, and effectively in their work and points toward new directions in understanding vicarious trauma. === Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. === Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. === Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.