WOUNDS TO THE SOUL - THE EXPERIENCES OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN SURVIVORS OFSEXUAL ABUSE

Much of the clinical and research literature on the consequences and t reatment of sexual abuse assumes relative homogeneity in the abuse exp erience. Little differentiation is acknowledged on the basis of race, ethnicity, or class, despite the known salience of these variables in the construction and interpretation of human experience. A phenomenolo gical examination of the experiences of six adult aboriginal women who were sexually abused as children identified six themes common to thei r experiences. These findings led to specific recommendations for work ing with aboriginal survivors of sexual abuse.