Women’s Strength and Growth in Reciprocal Relationship in the Context of Forced Displacement

Abstract

A single story of trauma has dominated Western psychological meaning making of displaced women’s experiences. This single story obfuscates women’s resilience and growth, whilst foregrounding an individualised understanding which does not address gendered, socio-cultural and relational contexts. Previous research suggests a more nuanced understanding of displaced women as simultaneously suffering, surviving and growing in socio-cultural and relational contexts; however, there is a dearth of literature exploring displaced women’s resilience and growth in relationship. This research sought to address that gap using a qualitative research design; a combination of narrative interviewing, ethnographic and auto-ethnographic methodologies to investigate strength and growth within multiple relationships: displaced women and their children; displaced women and volunteers; and displaced women and myself as a researcher. Analysis illustrated how growth and meaning making were constructed interpersonally and intersubjectively as reciprocal relational processes. This moves beyond previous literature which has situated relationships as a ‘backdrop’ to individual, internal psychological growth and meaning making, instead recognising these processes as inherently relational. This includes recognising ourselves, as clinical psychologists, and others in relationship with displaced women as part of a mutually influencing process of meaning making, where there can be psychological growth for both parties. Implications for clinical psychology theory and practice are outlined.