METHODOLOGY
These case studies were developed from data gathered through phenomenological research (Van Manen, 1990) and captured participants’ experiences and interpretation of FV, the response of societal institutions, and the impact of these experiences on their lives. In keeping with Van Manen’s phenomenological approach, the research focused on obtaining both a description of the experience of FV and the meaning of it for the participants, thus combining phenomenology’s descriptive and interpretive aspects. As participants recalled their childhood experiences of FV, they simultaneously reflected on the meaning of their experience and its impact on them.
The REBs of Toronto Metropolitan University and Sheridan College reviewed and approved the study. As per REB protocol, participants were recruited from several sources using several recruitment methods. Each researcher posted on social media, and a flyer was sent to community agencies serving women and children experiencing FV, and circulated through Sheridan College, and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Community Services listserv of students. Efforts were made to recruit racialized youth of diverse gender, education, cultures, countries of origin, and immigration statuses (Kall & Zeiler, 2014). Purposive sampling with the following eligibility criteria was used to select participants: a) they must have directly or indirectly experienced FV in childhood; b) they must self-identify as a racialized immigrant; c) they should be between 21 and 29 years of age; d) they should not have serious mental health challenges that prevent them from articulating their experiences and e) any FV-related formal/institutional intervention in their life should have ended three years before participation in this research. Thirteen people who met these criteria contacted the lead researcher, Purnima George, and expressed interest in participating in the study.
The consent form, which outlined the purpose of the study, data collection procedure, the risks involved, the benefits, confidentiality, the voluntary nature of participation, and access to research findings was sent to the interested youth. They signed the consent form and provided their preferred pseudonym to be used in the final report before the interview.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all interviews were conducted virtually on Zoom. We used an in-depth, semi-structured interview schedule that provided scope for probing questions and responses. Interviews lasted 90–180 minutes. The experiences participants related and interpretations they provided in the interviews were rich and insightful. One of the participants also shared artwork they had created while experiencing severe stress from violence. All participants received an honorarium prorated to the time they spent in the interview. At the end of the interview, they were also reminded of counselling services they could access if they felt re-traumatized in recounting their stories. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed with the software Otter AI.
The data analysis began with a two-stage process. The first stage comprised close reading of transcripts to identify all statements that reflected participants’ experiences and interpretations of FV. The second stage comprised weaving together case studies (narratives) from the selected statements (Padgett, 2017).
The study’s preliminary findings were shared with the participants for feedback on the accuracy and representation of the information they shared. At this stage, one participant withdrew from the study, and based on their request, all information they shared has been deleted. Hence, our final sample consists of 12 racialized immigrant youth who experienced FV in their childhood. Below we present their case studies.
