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Resilience Strategies of African American Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A Qualitative Inquiry

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The Counseling Psychologist

Published online on

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the daily lived experiences of African American women (N = 10) who have survived child sexual abuse. The researchers used a phenomenological research tradition and a feminist framework for the study. Using semistructured interviews and integrating methods of trustworthiness, the researchers identified six themes in the data: (a) understanding traumatic symptoms, (b) externalizing racist and sexist stereotypes of African American women, (c) negotiating family relationships and accessing community support, (d) transforming religion and spirituality into sources of healing, (e) reclaiming sexuality, and (f) integrating multiple identities as a survivor. Implications for future research, practice, and advocacy with African American women survivors of child sexual abuse are described.