UCLA

Scholars and institutional leaders have disregarded the influence of intersecting forms of oppression on students’ experiences of campus dating violence. In response, this research explored the experiences of Women and Femme students of Color who survived dating violence during college. This study centered students’ responses to abuse and the influence of violence on students’ college experiences. Intersectionality was employed as the theoretical framework to illuminate how interlocking structures of oppression influenced students’ experiences. The study was rooted in critical qualitative approaches with a narrative inquiry methodology centered in healing. Findings were identified through reflexive thematic analysis of the narratives of 35 Women and Femme student survivors of Color attending one of three large public institutions in the western United States. Each student participated in two virtual semistructured interviews and a photo-elicitation activity about their healing.Findings demonstrated that students were largely hesitant to disclose their dating violence experiences. In seeking help after dating violence, students sought services from therapists, campus advocacy offices, and general campus resources, rarely reporting to law enforcement or Title IX. Survivors also found healing through restorative practices, connections with nature, spirituality and religion, closure from past relationships, education, and support from loved ones. In terms of the influences of dating violence, some survivors used academics as an outlet and other students experienced challenges with academic performance. Students’ dating violence experiences primarily negatively affected their relationships with family members, friends, and new partners. Though there were several detrimental influences of dating violence on students’ senses of self, students were able to foster greater self-worth and identity development through healing. Viewing the findings through the three forms of intersectionality demonstrated that harmful representations of Femmes of Color limited students’ disclosure, help seeking, and healing. White feminist, community, and familial discourses also impeded survivors’ disclosure and help seeking. Finally, students’ help seeking and healing was hindered because of institutional structures rooted in the experiences of white women survivors. Implications of this research highlight the need for nuancing narratives of survivors, providing increased education, shifting institutional structures to support healing, and employing critical frameworks in campus violence research.