Questions of Agency: Explorations of the Meanings of Sexualised Coercion, Gender, and Participation in Group Sessions— Bodil Pedersen

The view that participating in psychosocial support groups can be helpful to women exposed to gendered violence such as rape and attempted rape, has much support. Drawing on a ‘subject theory’ approach and an empirical project, this article discusses some aspects of group practices. Which aspects of participation in groups may be helpful and which problematic? And what may we learn from working with groups? The discussion takes in such general questions as the position of professional counsellors and other participants, pathologisation, and the possible transfer of experience from one context to another, as well as more specific aspects of the meanings of victimisation, gender, sexualised coercion, and group participation.