Scholarlink

<p>Sexual assault remained largely undiscussed within the ultra-Orthodox community—where it was referred to as “protectedness”—until recent years, when revelations regarding multiple instances of abuse emerged. During this period, ultra-Orthodox social work students expressed a need to confront this controversial subject. Consequently, a participatory action research (PAR) study was launched, culminating in the project titled “Let’s Talk about Protectedness.” This initiative featured an online day-long&#xa0;seminar dedicated to learning about&#xa0;sexual abuse, involving students and graduates&#xa0;across all levels. Feedback surveys were collected from 57 participants one week after the event. Positive responses highlighted the importance of the initiative in enhancing awareness, encouraging open discussion about sexual abuse, and noted its emotional impact. Negative responses primarily concerned the absence of practical guidance and the format of the day. Overall, the seminar was highly valued. The present article examines the project and the challenges faced by a secular lecturer working within an ultra-Orthodox setting, particularly in&#xa0;navigating power relations with students and rabbinical oversight. The study highlights how specific PAR processes—student initiation, steering committee collaboration, and rabbinical approval—shaped a culturally sanctioned space that enabled dialogue about a taboo issue, addressed community sensitivities, and inspired further initiatives.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Participatory Action Research with Ultra-Orthodox Social Work Students on Sexual Abuse: Increasing Openness in Addressing a Social Taboo

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月17日

查看全文
  • Daniel J. N. Weishut,
  • Yitzhak Beker

摘要

Sexual assault remained largely undiscussed within the ultra-Orthodox community—where it was referred to as “protectedness”—until recent years, when revelations regarding multiple instances of abuse emerged. During this period, ultra-Orthodox social work students expressed a need to confront this controversial subject. Consequently, a participatory action research (PAR) study was launched, culminating in the project titled “Let’s Talk about Protectedness.” This initiative featured an online day-long seminar dedicated to learning about sexual abuse, involving students and graduates across all levels. Feedback surveys were collected from 57 participants one week after the event. Positive responses highlighted the importance of the initiative in enhancing awareness, encouraging open discussion about sexual abuse, and noted its emotional impact. Negative responses primarily concerned the absence of practical guidance and the format of the day. Overall, the seminar was highly valued. The present article examines the project and the challenges faced by a secular lecturer working within an ultra-Orthodox setting, particularly in navigating power relations with students and rabbinical oversight. The study highlights how specific PAR processes—student initiation, steering committee collaboration, and rabbinical approval—shaped a culturally sanctioned space that enabled dialogue about a taboo issue, addressed community sensitivities, and inspired further initiatives.