Growing From Surviving to Thriving: Negotiating Queer Sexual and Domestic Violence Survival and (Re)Empowerment Through Transformative Emergent Process in Community Gardening and Mutual Aid

Abstract

Queer survivors of sexual and domestic violence struggle to find safe spaces for (re)empowerment in community with others. Through the codesign and implementation of regular meetings, six white, adult queer survivors explored the role of gardening, group discussion, and mutual aid on re(empowerment). Audio was coded to unearth patterns of discourse centering empowerment and community while behaviors and commentary surrounding agency, confidence, positive self expression, and connectedness were tracked as signs of empowerment. Engagement with plants became a medium for engaging in themes accompanying empowerment (identified by participants as: agency, confidence, positive self expression, and connectedness) and community (particularly in the form of affirmation) to develop and surface. Patterns of discourse revealed that group process and norms became a central point in our work together, uplifting and expanding co-design as participants worked together to build and enact this project together. Through shared agreements, participants created a feeling of safety, allowing themselves to be fully present and vulnerable. In reaching this place of shared vulnerability, participants began answering the research question, “what does (re)empowerment look like” and identify what aspects of empowerment are important and meaningful to them, leading to discussion around how and when each participant feels empowered.