About the Project

Phase Two: Revisiting and Acquiring more Survivor Voices

In the Fall Semester of 2016, I revisited my Action Research Project and gathered more books and perspectives to add to the previous study. Also featured on this website are the results from this 'Second Phase' of the overall project:

"Literature for Healing: Bibliotherapy Study for Survivors of Sexual Abuse." 

 

Statement from Creator: 

"When I was fifteen years old, I read a book called Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. This first-person narrative is given by Melinda, a young rape victim silenced by trauma. People often say that books change lives, and I believe that this particular novel gave me my first encounter with literature’s healing and restorative powers. As I read the novel, or sketched its scenes in my notebooks, Melinda became a fictional friend for me—company when I felt lonely or in need of someone to understand my emotions. As I made this character more real and understood how her story is so similar to the lived experiences of many individuals, I developed an even deeper compassion for survivors of sexual or gender-based violence. Thus, I approached this project motivated ethically to conduct research that combines sexual assault advocacy and librarianship." --words from Fall Semester 2015

When I decided to revisit this project for an Independent Study Course in the Fall Semester of 2016, I had to read over the words above to reorient myself in the approaches that initially provided the framework for my project. In many ways, the second phase of the project is a continuation of the first phase: I researched the recommended literature for sexual abuse survivors, I composed lists of books suggested by sexual assault recovery organizations, non-profits, and libraries, and I sensitively upheld the voices of the victims themselves. However, with this phase of the project, I did not privilege just the insights of young survivors. Instead, my research hoped to find books that could be helpful for survivors of ALL ages. I wanted to find books that were helpful for the 16 year-old survivor, the 34 year-old survivor, and the 70 year-old survivor who each have diverse insights and life contexts. Thus, my research utilized the voices of actual survivors more prominently. I ventured in to recovery forums and advertised my questionnaire at mental health clinics and with therapists. Increasingly, this phase of the project emphasized the true voices of survivors themselves, the individuals who described the books that have been so beneficial. These varying vantage points and perspectives they gave have guided me in discerning what literature should really be in a library for a survivor. Thus, assessing these books as to their efficacy in bibliotherapy has been an essential part of the project.

​

Once again, the project is predicated on the firm belief that books on this subject could potentially help young--and OLD-- victims see their own stories-- their own potential journeys to healing -- in print.

Recovery Forums Consulted to Advertise Questionnaire:

​

• After Silence

• Pandora’s Aquarium

• Survivor’s Chat

• Fort Refuge

• Male Survivor

• Removing Chains

​