A Mutual Aid Group Program for Women Who Use Violence

Abstract

This article presents the development of a group program for women who use violence. A review of the North American literature and research into Quebec practices led the authors to adopt an intersectional feminist analysis of women’s violence and to choose the mutual aid group model. The program’s main objective is to help women find alternatives to the use of violence by working on three main themes: (1) violence, (2) socialization, and (3) life conditions. The program also aims to increase women’s empowerment through concrete experiences of group solidarity, such as by helping one another. Challenges that were encountered in its development and that are anticipated in its evaluation are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• group work
• mutual aid
• violence
• women
• intersectional feminism

Notes

1. 1. Relais-Femmes is a feminist organization that provides training, research, and consultation. L’R des Centres de Femmes represents 96 women centers in the Province of Quebec.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dominique Damant

Dominique Damant is full professor and director of the School of Social Work at Université de Montréal. Her research and teaching is in social work practice and violence against women.

Valérie Roy

Valérie Roy, PhD, Social Worker, is Professor at the School of Social Work at Université Laval. She teaches and specializes in group work and intimate partner violence.

Marianne Chbat

Marianne Chbat, MSc, is a PhD student in Humanities at Université de Montreal. Her main research interests are related to gender, sexuality, ethnicity and violence in an intersectional perspective.

Amélie Bédard

Amélie Bédard, MSc, is a PhD student in social work at Université Laval.

Catherine Lebossé

Catherine Lebossé, MA, specialist in science education, is currently working at the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation (Higher Council for Education) as a specialist in science education.

Diane Ouellet

Diane Ouellet, MA in social work, is responsible for the program on dependency at the Centre de santé et de services sociaux (Health and Social Services Center) in Rivière-du Loup and is also head of department for Centre de réadaptation en dépendance (Readaptation Center for dependency) in Bas-Saint-Laurent.