How did we survive and how do we remain resilient? Aboriginal women sharing their lived experiences and knowledge of lessons learned in life

Abstract

Background The aim of this study is to understand what contributes to the resilience of Aboriginal women in Australia. It is a strengths-based study, which draws upon Aboriginal women’s stories of survival to investigate the factors which support, or detract from this resilience. Although Aboriginal women belong to one of the most disadvantaged groups in Australia today, they have survived a very dark history fraught with discrimination, racism, assimilation, sexual exploitation and abuse and the removal of children from their families. The historical narratives written by Aboriginal women and the interviews that were undertaken as part of this research speak of trauma and of triumph. They reveal the strategies used to overcome hardships, providing insight into what makes and keeps our strong women strong. Methods This research, conducted by an Aboriginal Woman using Indigenous methodologies, provides a comprehensive review of the literature relating to resilience, particularly with Indigenous groups around the world and more specifically resilience literature related to Australian Aboriginal people. It examines literature written by Aboriginal women and describes findings from 12 interviews with Aboriginal women conducted to explore the challenges they face, the supports they draw on, the strategies they use and the specific things they avoid to remain strong or resilient. Results This research provides distinct findings with regard to Aboriginal women and resilience in Australia. Most of these insights came from the analysis of the interviews in which women identified some specific factors that support (protective) and detract from (risk factors) resilience, not previously highlighted in the available literature. For protective factors, these include: 1. The significant influence of Aboriginal matriarchs or strong Aboriginal women on the strength of women; the inner strength of our women is supported by a strong sense of identity and driven by the responsibility to stay strong for family and community. 2. The ability to operate between two worlds (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) and to use all available resources to enhance strength and resilience; using withdrawal or isolation from extreme situations to heal and re-charge. 3. The utilisation of culturally appropriate counselling to deal with more complex issues relating generally to extreme trauma and unacceptable levels of family violence, alcohol and drugs. The risk factors affecting resilience include: 1. Difficulties accessing information from services; 2. Negative people; compounding challenges and trauma; and the extreme risk these pose to wellbeing of Australian Aboriginal women. Conclusion The term ‘resilience’ is not generally used by Aboriginal Australians; the words strong, strength and wellbeing are commonly used. Australian Aboriginal people have many synergies with other Indigenous peoples around the world with regard to research on resilience. The similarities for protective factors include culture, family, land, language, spirituality. For risk factors, they are inter-generational trauma, racism, discrimination, drugs, violence and alcohol.” The outcomes of this research and the recommendations can be used to guide future policy and program development and assist in the design of programs and interventions to support the development and maintenance of resilience in Aboriginal women.