Everyday Community Arenas Crucial After Domestic Violence and Migration

The thesis, Stories of resistance: The community’s role in women’s recovery from domestic abuse and migration, was presented on 20 March at the Humanities Theatre in Uppsala. It emphasises Open Preschool and Civic Orientation as significant everyday points of contact where women can build connections, develop trust and – when needed – receive guidance towards further support, even though these services are not formally designed to address DVA.

“Women can feel seen and valued even when the person offering support does not know all the details. Affirmation can be conveyed through tone of voice, presence, a non‑judgemental approach and small acts of care,” says Anna Pérez Aronsson.

The thesis shows that recovery involves processes of resistance – not only against DVA itself but also against the loneliness created by social reactions and administrative systems. Anna highlights that societal structures can either reinforce or alleviate this loneliness and calls for more support for personnel in community services:

“My findings indicate how loneliness is reinforced by societal structures,” she explains. “They also show that personnel in community services carry out substantial and emotionally demanding work to support women’s resistance to violence and loneliness.”

Guided by an initial collaborative process, the thesis focuses on Open Preschool and Civic Orientation as key arenas for women with experiences of violence. Civic Orientation is the statutory course offered to newly arrived adults, providing knowledge about rights, responsibilities, everyday life and how Swedish society functions. Delivered in a dialogic format, often in participants’ mother tongues, the course comprises at least 100 hours and aims to facilitate integration into working and civic life. In the thesis, Civic Orientation emerges as an everyday arena where staff frequently encounter women who have experienced DVA and can become important guides.

The thesis also identifies Open Preschool as a previously underexplored but central arena – an open, accessible and trust‑building meeting place. Here, relationships can develop naturally, and signs of vulnerability may be noticed as trust grows.

“Open Preschool emerged as a previously underexplored context. There is untapped potential here – a place where women encounter society naturally in their everyday lives,” Anna notes.

She also emphasises the value of involving women with lived experience throughout the research process. While this requires time, planning and resources, it deepens understanding and can lead to research that directly benefits community services.

“There is much to gain if researchers are prepared to dedicate what is required to meaningfully include the groups concerned – and it is essential if we aim to reach those who currently remain invisible within support systems.”

Anna’s message to policymakers and practitioners is clear: listen to women’s lived experiences and strengthen the everyday arenas where recovery can begin.

“I want to highlight how women’s opportunities for resistance and recovery are intertwined with multiple forms of violence – including structural violence. We need to listen to women’s stories to guide public health strategies and develop inclusive, equitable systems that support recovery rather than reinforce suffering.”