The Effects of Body Violation on the Lived Experiences of Young Women

The experience of one’s self as ‘living in and through the body’ has been coined embodiment. The interactions between felt inner states and interactions with one’s environment mutually construct the level and quality of this experience. Embodiment relies on a sense of safety and ownership over one’s body territory. Existing research cites the emotional, psychological,physical, and interpersonal effects of violence against women, yet the underlying disruption to body ownership that follows such violation has largely remained unidentified. Using the framework offered by the groundbreaking Developmental Theory of Embodiment, this study examines the effects of a broader spectrum of violation to body ownership than what has been examined to date. Three interviews of each of seven women, over a period of two years, provide insights into experiences of living in and with the female body as this relates to various forms of trauma.MAS