P082 - ReachOUT: it goes both ways! How can service provides better support LGBTQ+ young people experiencing domestic abuse?

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

ReachOUT is the final product of a participatory action research project with 12 LGBTQ+ young people as co-researchers exploring domestic abuse help-seeking. Little research focuses on experiencing domestic abuse at the intersection of being both a young person and LGBTQ+. With young people’s relationships often seen as naïve and unimportant and a cisgendered heteronormative public story of domestic abuse, LGBTQ+ young people who have experienced domestic abuse may struggle to see themselves within these narratives leading to a lack of recognition of their experiences as domestic abuse and lack of awareness of the support that may be available. Although many barriers prevent young people from seeking professional help, the problem is worsened by a lack of research and resources to bridge the gap from the other side – hence the title: “ReachOUT: it goes both ways!”. Through the co-analysis stage of interviews with 5 service providers and a survey of 93 LGBTQ+ young people, the co-researchers sought to compare LGBTQ+ young people’s experiences and perspectives of available domestic abuse support with the support described and provided by those interviewed across sexual violence, domestic abuse and LGBT youth organisations. This approach highlights the importance of not just asking and listening but also involving young people in the analysis and dissemination of research about issues that affect them. We investigate the socio-political context and barriers faced by LGBTQ+ young people in receiving the support they deserve. We question claims of universal ‘safe spaces’ and instead argue that, through outreach, training and constant dialogue and reflection, support could and should be more intersectional and inclusive. The poster has been co-designed with the co-researchers on this project but adapted to fit this conference.

Author

• Cait Jobson, Durham University Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse