On Demand Webinar: 3 Steps to Becoming a Trauma and Gender Responsive Organization

Cissy White (ACEs Connection Staff) posted:

Alice:
Thanks for sharing. I appreciated learning about the gender differences as relates to trauma as well as trauma-informed/responsive/healing orgs and programs. 

I did know that women are often traumatized by those they know well and that is true for when it's developmental trauma as well as interpersonal trauma for women serving in the military. However, I didn't know that men are most often traumatized by those who they are not as close to and with, even when the trauma is also developmental, as well as when it is happening in adults.

Is it possible to share the research that's based on? I'd love to learn more and imagine others would as well. 

Cis

Hi Cissy,

Here is some additional information on gender differences directly from Stephanie.  Please let me know if I can help in any additional way.

"There is a difference between women and men in terms of their risk for physical and sexual abuse. Girls and boys both are at risk for physical and sexual abuse from family members and people known to them. However, there are significant gender differences over a life span. Adolescent boys are at risk if they are gay, transitioning, young men of color, or gang members. Their greatest risk is from peers, people who dislike them, and the police. Teenaged girls are at most risk in relationships, from the people to whom they are saying, “I love you.” For an adult man, the risk for abuse comes from being in combat in the military or from being a victim of crime. For an adult woman, the risk is from the person to whom she says, “I love you.” If she is in the military, it is from the men she is serving with (Covington, 2013, 2014; Kendall-Tackett, 2005). This may account for the increase in mental health problems for women. It is more confusing and distressing to have the person who is supposed to love and care for you do harm to you than it is to be harmed by someone who dislikes you or is a stranger."

References:

Covington, S. (2013). Understanding and applying gender differences in recovery. In A. L. O’Neil & J. Lucas (Eds.), DAWN Drugs and alcohol women network: Promoting a gender responsible approach to addiction (pp.339-362). Turin, Italy: United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute.

Covington, S. (2014). Beyond anger and violence: A program for women. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.

Kendall-Tackett, K. A. (Ed.). (2005). Handbook of women, stress, and trauma (No. 30). New York: Brunner-Routledge.

Cissy White (ACEs Connection Staff) posted:

Alice:
Thanks for sharing. I appreciated learning about the gender differences as relates to trauma as well as trauma-informed/responsive/healing orgs and programs. 

I did know that women are often traumatized by those they know well and that is true for when it's developmental trauma as well as interpersonal trauma for women serving in the military. However, I didn't know that men are most often traumatized by those who they are not as close to and with, even when the trauma is also developmental, as well as when it is happening in adults.

Is it possible to share the research that's based on? I'd love to learn more and imagine others would as well. 

Cis

Hi Cissy,

I've connected with Stephanie but she is traveling out of the country.  When she returns nearer to Christmas I will be able to supply you with this information.  Do keep in mind that developmental trauma (childhood) is often family members and those known to child (for both boys and girls)...he shift is in adolescence and adulthood.

More to come in a few weeks!

Alice

Alice:
Thanks for sharing. I appreciated learning about the gender differences as relates to trauma as well as trauma-informed/responsive/healing orgs and programs. 

I did know that women are often traumatized by those they know well and that is true for when it's developmental trauma as well as interpersonal trauma for women serving in the military. However, I didn't know that men are most often traumatized by those who they are not as close to and with, even when the trauma is also developmental, as well as when it is happening in adults.

Is it possible to share the research that's based on? I'd love to learn more and imagine others would as well. 

Cis