Poster #31 - Stories of Surviving and Healing from Intimate Trauma

• In Event: Poster Session I (posters 1 - 79)

Abstract

Violence and trauma research is often written from a deficit standpoint with little information about how survivors journey towards healing. Using case studies and current scholarship we investigated opportunities for healing, growth, and justice for survivors of intimate trauma from an anti-carceral, anti-capitalist, and intersectional feminist perspective. Intimate trauma is a term that includes many forms of abuse and assault, but with a heavy focus on sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and child abuse. This paper begins with a theoretical focus and then provides research on the limitations of justice approaches to aid survivors. Conclusions highlight how survivors find justice and healing in many arenas outside of the criminal legal system such as within social support and community care, sex/sexuality, and even parenting. From our findings, we consider the value of restorative and transformative justice approaches in healing, community building, and violence prevention.

Authors

• Bex Hayes, Central Michigan University

• Katherine Lorenz, California State University, Northridge