Mindfulness-Based Practices for Female Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Feminist Lens
Mindfulness-Based Practices for Female Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Feminist Lens
Loading...
Issue Date
2023
Authors
McLachlan, Kayla
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to answer the question, how can a feminist lens to mindfulness-based practices support the healing process for female survivors of sexual violence? Feminist theories describe how women internalize cultural narratives after experiences of sexual violence, which can lead to self-blame, shame, and disconnection. Mindfulness and self-compassion may help offset these negative impacts. There is little research available on mindfulness-based approaches to help women who have experienced violence that simultaneously incorporate a social justice lens. To address this question, ten quantitative and qualitative peer-review studies were examined through a systematic literature review. The article's methodological approaches were examined to ensure academic rigor. Data was collected from the ten articles for thematic analysis to answer the research question. Findings from the study indicated that sexual violence is rooted in a sociocultural context and has direct impacts on women's experiences with shame and self-blame, emotional regulation, and self-compassion. The combination of feminist and mindfulness-based approaches has benefits for women who have experienced sexual violence by acknowledging the oppressive context in which sexual violence persists and providing women with tools and skills to regain control over their bodies after that control was lost due to the violence. In conclusion, a Mindfulness-Based Feminist Therapeutic approach was proposed that could be utilized in clinical practice, but further research is encouraged to determine the best use of this model.
Description
Keywords
sexual violence , intersectional feminism , mindfulness , self-compassion , female survivors
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States , openAccess