“I survived him. He did everything he could to destroy me.”: A phenomenological study of gender-based violence experienced by disabled women in Newfoundland and Labrador

Abstract

Abstract

Disabled women experience disproportionately high rates of gender-based violence (GBV), with prevalence in Newfoundland and Labrador exceeding that of other Canadian provinces. Despite growing attention to this issue, the voices of disabled women, particularly in Atlantic Canada, remain largely absent from research. This study explores their lived experiences to address this critical gap. Thirteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with disabled women (ages 25–50) in Newfoundland and Labrador who had experienced GBV. Participants self-identified with a range of disabilities, including developmental, physical, neurodivergence, chronic illness, and mental health conditions. Recruitment involved provincial and local outreach, collaboration with community organizations, and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Findings reveal how disability itself is weaponized in GBV, with disabled women often targeted because of their perceived vulnerability. Many participants described how male entitlement and societal norms reinforced cycles of harm, leaving them trapped in patterns of abuse. Violence reshaped women’s lives, exacerbating their disabilities and deepening their isolation, while institutional betrayal and community silence further normalized their mistreatment. For some, survival meant negotiating safety through compromise, as autonomy became a bargaining tool in a system that offered little protection. This study underscores the urgent need for intersectional, trauma-informed responses that recognize the compounded impact of GBV on disabled women. Disrupting these cycles requires challenging the social conditions that sustain harm and increasing support systems that acknowledge both the unique vulnerabilities and resilience of disabled survivors.