<p>Gender-based violence encompasses various forms of harm—physical, sexual, psychological, and economic—perpetrated against individuals based on gender. Despite global efforts to mitigate gender-based violence, qualitative data capturing survivors’ lived experiences in rural communities remain limited. This study, grounded in social work principles of empowerment and social justice, employed the feminist theory to explore the perspectives of female gender-based violence survivors in four rural communities in Abia State, Nigeria. Twelve women purposively recruited through community gatherings participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews lasting 40–55&#xa0;min. Interviews were conducted in Ohafia dialect by a trained female researcher, with another female team member recording and taking field notes. Transcriptions were translated into English and verified by an independent translator. Reflexivity and trauma-informed practices guided the process to ensure cultural sensitivity, emotional safety, and ethical rigor. Data were analyzed using a multi-stage interpretative phenomenological analysis process to derive themes from line-by-line coding and interpretive clustering. Three overarching themes emerged: (a) female survivors’ emotional and experiential responses to gender-based violence, (b) socio-cultural influences on gender-based violence perceptions, and (c) barriers to seeking support and services. Participants described fear, shame, and stigma rooted in patriarchal norms, along with systemic barriers including inadequate healthcare and legal services. These findings reveal the enduring emotional, cultural, and institutional burdens of GBV. The study calls for trauma-informed, survivor-centered interventions and community-based advocacy to challenge harmful norms. Social workers must engage in culturally responsive action and intersectional policy reforms. Future research should adopt longitudinal and intersectional approaches to deepen insights into survivors’ evolving experiences.</p>