Theological reflection on self-silencing

ABSTRACT

Self-silencing is a relational strategy which is frequently adopted by women to avoid conflicts in relationships and to establish physical safety. This behaviour is critically influenced by gender-biased norms and deleteriously impacts women’s mental wellbeing in their constant suppression of emotions. This paper explores the concept of self-silencing and the role of anger in the context of women in their healing from sexual harassment trauma, and theologically reflects on some possibilities where the church can more faithfully respond to and support survivors in their struggles from sexual harassment.

KEYWORDS:

• Theological reflection
• sexual harassment
• self-silencing
• anger
• women survivors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Caroline Yih

Caroline Yih completed her PhD at the University of Aberdeen. The title of her thesis is: ‘Practising in an inhospitable land: The lived experience of chaplains in Hong Kong hospitals’. Caroline was a hospital pharmacist before completing her MDiv and has been working as a palliative chaplain for 5 years. She is currently an honorary post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Aberdeen as well as honorary post-research associate at the Chung Chi Divinity School, Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her ongoing post-doctoral research focuses on trauma and disenfranchisement.