creating a better learning environment

A View from the University:
An Interview with Kathy Storrie

Interviewer: How do you think violence affects women's education?

Kathy: In classes where I have taught about violence against women, a woman may have memory flashbacks of her own abuse. In these cases, the content of the classes actually triggered memories. When a student lives with domestic abuse, she will experience a lot of physical problems and may have to struggle with legal matters and finances. She may drop out because she cannot continue. If she has a learning disability, it will be worsened by trauma she remembers or that she experiences. Past or current abuse can have devastating effects on a woman's health; it affects her education tremendously.

I: How can a teacher recognize the effects of violence?

K: If a student shows an interest in a particular area of abuse, it is likely that if she trusts you, she will tell you about her own abuse. When women are failing or not getting assignments in on time or are not attending classes, they might disclose they are in an abusive relationship.

I: How does learning or being aware of violence affect the teacher?

K: It is important for teachers to know what stage the survivor is in. Women who are still working through child sexual abuse issues can, at certain stages, be walking time bombs of anger. Anger can sometimes be triggered by a young male professor. Some students are not ready to be in university because they are experiencing too many flash backs. The world they live in is both past and present. Teachers are not psychologists or counsellors and have to stay in their academic role, otherwise they become the counsellor. Teachers can encourage their students to get counselling so they can identify and work on their anger. Unfortunately, this is problematic; many university campuses are over-loaded in career counselling. These counsellors have cognitive-academic training but need more training about sexual abuse and domestic violence. Student counselling services are good but they are always full.

I: How does learning about violence affect the content of the class?

K: Teachers, especially in the humanities and social sciences, need to think very carefully about films they use in their class, for example, the NFB's Not a Love Story. Teachers need to ensure that students are aware that certain films could trigger memories and strong emotions and be sure they know what counselling resources are available to them. Further, male professors can experience a lot of anger from female students who are survivors of abuse.

When we critically examine violence or sexism, many female students feel affirmed.