describing the barriers

Recognizing the Effects of Violence

If a woman has overcome the systemic and institutional barriers that prevent her from even entering an educational program, she may bring other effects of violence with her. Many women display behaviours which are long-term effects of, for instance, child sexual abuse, systemic violence, rape or domestic battering. Some of these behaviours are described below.

These behaviours are defense mechanisms a woman has created in order to cope with trauma in her life; they protect her physical, emotional and spiritual self. When we understand why a woman is behaving in what at first may seem a contradictory manner, we realize that what she is doing makes perfect sense; she is protecting her safety. Our job, as educators, is to help her move to a place of trust, autonomy, initiative, competence, positive self-identity, and safety. A survivor of trauma needs to feel safe.

What do you, as an adult educator, tutor, counsellor or helper need to look for? Do you, a woman learner, see these behaviours in yourself or in others in your program? The behaviours include 1) those caused when a woman adopts her abuser's view of herself and 2) those caused by such abuse, past or present.

When a woman accepts her abuser's evaluation of her, she may experience:

erosion of the self. Abusers exert power and control over a woman's every move. She is constantly put down and degraded and told she is stupid. Even years later, a woman may not feel safe enough to have confidence about herself or her ability to learn. Many women survivors struggle to find the confidence to pursue education; other women question their own ability. "A client was physically abused by her father as a child and constantly told she was stupid or retarded. She dropped out of school in grade 9 and was afraid to upgrade until recently. When she wrote a test and passed, she did not believe she had passed, but questioned the teacher several times to make sure those were her marks."

self blame, or a feeling that she attracts the abuse or is the cause of it. A woman may feel that she is responsible for her abuser's behaviour. He tells her that is responsible for his anger and violence. Because he controls her and her safety, she believes him.

negative self-image. Part of the process of victimization is dehumanization. This is incorporated into the self-concept and creates cycles of loss of self. Learning needs a belief in one's own potential and ability. This is frequently undermined by violence.

self-abuse. A woman who has experienced violence may abuse herself in order to feel pain. If the pain is great enough, she will not be able to complete a class project and her abuser will say he was right, she is stupid. Other women may mutilate themselves or try to commit suicide as a way to cope with extreme pain or trauma.