Domestic Violence Survivors Who Became Anti-domestic Violence Volunteers: A Qualitative Study in China.

This article examines the lived experiences of domestic violence survivors in China who became anti-domestic violence volunteers, based on in-depth interviews with ten women volunteers. It identifies three sequential stages in their experiences of domestic violence—from initial shock, self-blame, and acceptance, to recognizing the abuser's responsibility, and finally connecting domestic violence to broader issues of gender equality, social justice, and human rights—and similarly three stages in their actions against violence: endurance, breaking away, and volunteer engagement. Participation in volunteer work empowered these survivors, fostering posttraumatic growth by reshaping their perceptions of self, family or intimate relationships, and the world, while providing a pathway for recovery and resilience. The study highlights the potential of anti-domestic violence volunteer work as an effective means to support survivors' healing and advocates for collaboration between social workers, professionals, and survivor-activists to promote such initiatives.