Women survivors of childhood sexual abuse : narratives of relationships with their mothers

Abstract

This study is a narrative inquiry of the daughter – mother relationship of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Interviews were conducted and narratives of the co-researcher’s experiences written. Understanding the role of the daughter – mother relationship in the healing journey of women survivors was gained as the relationship was considered over time. This study makes a unique contribution to the field of narrative research in childhood sexual abuse as well as a valuable contribution to research in daughter – mother relationships. Two significant understandings have been gained through this work. First, the effects of child sexual abuse on the girl/woman were experienced as lasting and have demanded years of counselling and therapy to bring freedom to the psyche and autonomy to the woman. Second, and of particular note is the way childhood sexual abuse provoked a change of enormous magnitude to the daughter – mother relationship, irrevocably altering it. This study may enlighten issues of attachment, autonomy and independence within survivors of childhood sexual abuse. This study may have implications for the work of therapists and counsellors working with survivors.