Adler University Library: Social Justice Resource Guide: Intimate Partner Violence Stories

Toll-Free Confidential & Multilingual Service 24/7 via Call or Text: 1-800-563-0808 for VictimLinkBC

Intimate Partner Violence First Person Storytelling

Podcasts

Expert On: Domestic Violence

Crime Junkie: Expert On

Domestic Violence with Ashley Bendiksen
Ashley Bendiksen is an acclaimed survivor speaker and award-winning activist, speaking and training nationally on the topics of domestic violence, teen dating violence, sexual assault and bystander intervention. Passionate about helping others reshape and redesign their lives as she once did.

I'm Not In An Abusive Relationship

I'm Not in an Abusive Relationship: Domestic & Sexual Abuse Services
A podcast about surviving domestic and sexual violence, bringing stories of hope to inspire, and conversations with experts to offer insight and advice.

Surviving "Shameguilt" After Abyse with Lois Hollis
Lois Hollis, RN, BSN, REV., is a shame guilt educator, counsellor, and filmmaker. In this episode, Lois challenges our perspective on the taboo subjects of shame and guilt.

Survivor Story - Using Poetry to Heal from Family Abuse - Carol White
Carol White, Doctor of Nursing Practice and abuse survivor, shares her mother's legacy of surviving her own abuse through publishing her mother's poetry.

Narcissist Apocalypse: Patterns of Abuse

Henrietta & The Cult of Family
In this story of generational trauma, scapegoats, parental alienation, the cult of family, perfectionism, no contact, child sexual abuse, the bee hive mentality, sibling rivalry, the golden child, authenticity, autonomy, secret motivations, arranged marriage, expectations, hypocrisy, control, respect, guilt and gossip.
** CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses child sex abuse by another child. **

Valentine & The Controlling Religious Abuser
In this gripping episode, Valentine bravely recounts her experience of being married to a controlling religious abuser. Valentine met her husband at church and was initially attracted by his spirituality. However, Valentine eventually found out that he was only spiritual when it was convenient for him. Religion was a device to control Valentine's mind, her body, her life, and the lives of her children.
** CONTENT WARNING: sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual coercion.**

Something was Wrong

Something Was Wrong: An award-winning docuseries about survivors' discovery, trauma, and recovery from crime and abuse.

Season 11, Episode 2: [Ari] If I Can't Have Him, No One Can - Part 1

Season 11, Episode 3: [Ari] If I Can't Have Him, No One Can - Part 2

Therapy Chat

Episode 122: A Deeper Discussion on Intimate Partner Violence

This is Actually Happening

Episode 247: What if you didn't see the signs?
Bill Mitchell (host of When Dating Hurts) built a successful career, marriage and family. Still, just as his bright and loving daughter graduates from college with big dreams, an unthinkable event irreversibly changes everything.

When Dating Hurts

When Dating Hurts: Intimate Partner Violence

Episode 267: Bruce Beiber - Lost His Daughter to OIDV (Officer-Involved Domestic Violence)
This episode comes with a long list of warning signs. The graphic descriptions of domestic violence in this survivor story can be triggering. There are instances of 'adult language' as well. The scenes depicted needed to be included so listeners can hear what happens in unhealthy relationships. Please decide carefully whether you should listen to this content.

Episode 208, 209, 210: "Paula" - Australian Woman Flees Abusive Husband for Children's Sake
This interview with Paula is strong and descriptive. You will immediately notice that Paula's voice has been distorted so that she can speak freely and cannot be recognized; we apologize that some parts may be difficult to understand.

The story is challenging to listen to, but 1000 times more difficult to be the one who experienced it. We learn from survivors like Paula to trust our instincts, get out of unhealthy relationships early, take nothing for granted, and understand the warning signs of a potentially dangerous relationship.

Paula: Part 1 (Episode 208)
Paula: Part 2 (Episode 209)
Paula: Part 3 (Episode 210)

Books

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
ISBN: 9780425274866

Publication Date: 2015-08-11

Big Little Lies is a contemporary fiction novel set in the Pirriwee Peninsula of Sydney, Australia. The story unfolds through the perspectives of three main characters: Madeline Mackenzie, Celeste Wright, and Jane Chapman, each grappling with personal struggles while navigating the complexities of motherhood and community dynamics. As the story progresses, the lives of these women intertwine, revealing the "little lies" they tell themselves and each other to cope with their realities. The tension escalates as the school community grapples with bullying, domestic violence, and the complexities of friendship and motherhood.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
ISBN: 9780307278449

Publication Date: 2007-05-08

It is a powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity that asks questions about race, class, and gender with characteristic subtly and grace. In Morrison's acclaimed first novel, Pecola Breedlove--an 11-year-old Black girl in an America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others--prays for her eyes to turn blue: so that she will be beautiful, so that people will look at her, so that her world will be different. This is the story of the nightmare at the heart of her yearning, and the tragedy of its fulfillment.
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult; Jennifer Finney Boylan
ISBN: 9781984818386

Publication Date: 2022-10-04

Mad Honey is a novel that intricately weaves themes of identity, abuse, and the complexities of relationships through a gripping murder mystery. The story centers on Olivia McAfee, a divorced mother who has returned to her childhood home in New Hampshire with her son Asher after escaping an abusive marriage. Asher, now 18, is dating Lily Campanello, a new girl in town who has her own troubled past. The narrative alternates between Olivia's and Lily's perspectives, allowing readers to see the events surrounding Lily's tragic death from both angles. Mad Honey is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the secrets that shape our identities, culminating in a surprising twist that challenges initial perceptions of guilt and innocence.
Maid by Stephanie Land; Barbara Ehrenreich (Foreword by)
ISBN: 9780316505116

Publication Date: 2019-01-22

The book is Stephanie Land's memoir about working as a maid, a beautiful and gritty exploration of poverty in America. At 28, Stephanie Land's plans of breaking free from the roots of her hometown in the Pacific Northwest to chase her dreams of attending a university and becoming a writer, were cut short when a summer fling turned into an unexpected pregnancy. She turned to housekeeping to make ends meet, and with a tenacious grip on her dream to provide her daughter the very best life possible, Stephanie worked days and took classes online to earn a college degree, and began to write relentlessly. She wrote the true stories that weren't being told: the stories of overworked and underpaid Americans. Of living on food stamps and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) coupons to eat. Of the government programs that provided her housing, but that doubled as halfway houses. The aloof government employees who called her lucky for receiving assistance while she didn't feel lucky at all. She wrote to remember the fight, to eventually cut through the deep-rooted stigmas of the working poor.
No Visible Bruises by Rachel Louise Snyder
ISBN: 9781635570977

Publication Date: 2019-05-07

An award-winning journalist's intimate investigation of the true scope of domestic violence, revealing how the roots of America's most pressing social crises are buried in abuse that happens behind closed doors. We call it domestic violence. We call it private violence. Sometimes we call it intimate terrorism. But whatever we call it, we generally do not believe it has anything at all to do with us, despite the World Health Organization deeming it a "global epidemic." In No Visible Bruises, journalist Rachel Louise Snyder gives context for what we don't know we're seeing. Through the stories of victims, perpetrators, law enforcement, and reform movements from across the country, Snyder explores the real roots of private violence, its far-reaching consequences for society, and what it will take to truly address it.
Trauma and Recovery by Judith L. Herman
ISBN: 9780465087303

Publication Date: 1997-05-30

Trauma and Recovery brings a new level of understanding to a set of problems usually considered individually. Herman draws on her own cutting-edge research in domestic violence as well as on the vast literature of combat veterans and victims of political terror, to show the parallels between private terrors such as rape and public traumas such as terrorism. The book puts individual experience in a broader political frame, arguing that psychological trauma can be understood only in a social context. Meticulously documented and frequently using the victims' own words as well as those from classic literary works and prison diaries, Trauma and Recovery is a powerful work that will continue to profoundly impact our thinking.
When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy
ISBN: 9781786491282

Publication Date: June 1 2018

When I Hit You by Meena Kandasamy is a poignant and harrowing exploration of domestic violence, narrated from the perspective of an unnamed young Indian woman. The story begins with her marriage to a university professor, whom she initially admires for his intellect and political engagement. However, shortly after the wedding, the relationship deteriorates into a cycle of emotional and physical abuse, stripping her of her identity and freedom.
The narrative delves into the complexities of her situation, highlighting the insidious nature of her husband’s control, which escalates from emotional manipulation to severe violence, including rape.
When Love Hurts by Jill Cory; Karen Mcandless-davis; Lundy Bancroft (Foreword by)
ISBN: 9780425274286

Publication Date: 2016-10-04

Written by two women with a wealth of experience supporting victims of abuse, When Love Hurts introduces exercises and resources to help you make sense of your relationship, addressing all forms of abuse, including verbal, emotional, financial, sexual, and physical. This practical guidebook is a supportive and nonjudgmental friend to those who don't know where to turn and is filled with stories from women who have been in the same position. By drawing on your own wisdom and that of the many others who have shared your experience, When Love Hurts can help you find the answers you have been looking for.

Documentaries & Movies

Resource Links

Domestic Abuse Help in Canada
DomesticShelters.org provides comprehensive resources and information for victims of domestic abuse in Canada. The website offers commonly asked questions, educational resources, national helplines, provincial resources and statistics.
Domestic Violence Resources
The provided URL leads to a comprehensive resource page on domestic violence from the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW). This page offers a wide range of information and support for individuals affected by domestic violence, as well as for professionals working in this field.
Find family violence resources and services in your area
The webpage from the Government of Canada offers a comprehensive directory of resources and services for individuals affected by family violence. It includes national services for various groups such as women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and older adults, along with provincial and territorial resources. The site provides important crisis hotline numbers, local support organizations, and additional resources for different demographics, ensuring accessible help for those experiencing domestic abuse, child abuse, or elder abuse.
Gender Based Violence Resource Library
VAWnet.org is a comprehensive online resource library focused on gender-based violence. The website provides information and resources related to various forms of violence, including stalking, teen dating violence, sexual assault, and domestic violence. It supports national awareness campaigns throughout the year, dedicating specific months to highlight different aspects of gender-based violence.
Me Too Resource Library
This library is a curated collection of resources and organizations dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence. Users can filter their search based on their specific experiences, needs, and community support requirements to find appropriate assistance. The library includes information on therapists, shelters, social services, and crisis intervention options.
Safety Changes Everything
Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) is an organization dedicated to eliminating gender-based violence and supporting survivors. BWSS offers education, advocacy, and various support services for individuals affected by violence, including legal assistance and community engagement opportunities. Additionally, BWSS engages in professional training and workshops based on empowerment models, aiming to equip individuals with the skills needed to address and prevent violence against women and girls. The organization is committed to creating a safe environment for all and has responded to over 94,000 service requests in recent years, highlighting the ongoing need for its services.

We acknowledge that the Vancouver Campus operates on the shared, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil Waututh), and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations of the Coast Salish peoples.

Social Justice Resource Guide

Toll-Free Confidential & Multilingual Service 24/7 via Call or Text: 1-800-563-0808 for VictimLinkBC

Intimate Partner Violence First Person Storytelling

Podcasts

Expert On: Domestic Violence

I'm Not In An Abusive Relationship

Narcissist Apocalypse: Patterns of Abuse

Something was Wrong

Therapy Chat

This is Actually Happening

When Dating Hurts

Books

Documentaries & Movies

A Better Man

A Dangerous Silence: Domestic Violence Documentary

Darlings

I, Tonya

Mourning Son

The Perfect Victim

Private Violence

Provoked

Telling Amy's Story

A Vigilante

Resource Links

We acknowledge that the Vancouver Campus operates on the shared, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil Waututh), and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations of the Coast Salish peoples.