Violence to Empowerment: Lived Experiences of Gender-Based Violence During the 2020 Community Quarantine in Baguio-La Trinidad

Abstract

With the implemented protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, women are exposed to vulnerability as they are kept inside their home. It is the aim of our research to describe the lived experiences of gender-based violence during the 2020 community quarantine in Baguio-La Trinidad. This study utilized a phenomenological approach specifically the descriptive phenomenology of Husserl as its main design. Adhering to the ethics of research and the protocols implemented for the COVID-19 pandemic, this was conducted at Baguio-La Trinidad, with a total of 7 participants. The data was gathered through conducting a series of unstructured face-to-face interviews and virtual interviews through messenger, employing open ended questions. The accomplished data was analyzed and treated using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis. The results showed that there are different forms of violence our participants have gone through. Most of them were depressed and were experiencing trauma whenever intrusive memories occur; all the participants are striving to survive. However, they were able to make a positive change on their perspective in life causing them to build and empower themselves and others. In general, the pandemic negatively affects the experiences of the participants that raises serious concerns about the safety of women. Further research works may be conducted in a quantitative approach to widen the scope of the study and to know whether there is a surge in gender-based violence; understanding lived experiences of violated men in the context of pandemic is also advised. Moreover, improving VAWC Law and adding women survivors in the policy building committee should be considered to strengthen the women support system. Nurse practitioners should develop nursing tools or nursing practice management for these particular types of clientele. Lastly, we recommend to integrate this topic in NCM 117 (Psychiatric Nursing) as a form of basis when crisis such as pandemic happens, as well as with NCM 112 (Community Health Nursing) to improve the skills of the students in talking with the community, providing support and advice, and making referrals.