Preferred Name
Darrian Pickett
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6095-834X
Date of Graduation
Spring 2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
School of Communication Studies
Advisor(s)
Melissa Alemán
Kathryn Hobson
Michael Broderick
Abstract
This thesis is an autoethnographic exploration of my experience with same-sex intimate partner violence, the development of the abusive relationship itself, my journey to escape the abusive relationship, and the comfort that I found among my social networks after the abusive relationship ended. First, I provide a brief overview of intimate partner violence. Second, I describe autoethnographic methodology and my rationale for using narrative inquiry as a way to make sense of my experiences and to offer a concrete portrait into the lived experience of interpersonal violence and survivorship. In the narratives, I describe my experiences as a pastor’s kid, the development of a same-sex violent romantic relationships, the movement from shame and hiding to coming out to family and friends to seek help, and the kinds of social support I found afterward. The scholarly literature is weaved in between the narratives to create a conversation between my experiences and the ongoing scholarship on each topic and theme addressed. The thesis ultimately enabled me to examine and reflect on the complex experiences of IPV and social support that enables survivorship, ultimately contributing to the body of research on intimate partner violence.
Recommended Citation
Pickett, Darrian, "“Taking the Power Away”: An autoethnographic exploration of intimate partner violence, social support, and survivorship" (2018). Masters Theses, 2010-2019. 554.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/554
Included in
Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons
