Behind the scenes : the lived experiences of female professionals working with survivors of violence against women

Abstract

The focus of this study is to probe into the lived experiences of professionals working with survivors of violence against women. A qualitative approach was adopted, and the sample size consisted of seven participants from different professions, all working in the field of violence against women. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in the form of open ended questions. The research tool used to analyse the data of this study was Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results yielded from this study showed a number of emotions endured by the professionals due to the challenges they face along the way. Findings also show the impact working with survivors of violence against women can have on a professional, which permeates into their professional and private lives. Furthermore, this study delved into the methods used to mitigate the risks and the coping strategies embraced by the participants. Despite all these adverse aspects of working in the field of VAW, participants strongly showed how passionate they are about their work and the satisfaction they derive from helping these women progress towards a better life.