Talk Explores Trauma Survivors’ Growth

Sarah Jirek, assistant professor of sociology at Westmont since 2014, examines trauma survivors and their ability to reconstruct their life stories in a Gender Studies Lecture on Monday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. in Hieronymus Lounge at Westmont College. The talk, “Narrative Reconstruction and Post-Traumatic Growth among Trauma Survivors: The Importance of Gender and Cultural Narratives,” is free and open to the public. The Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts and the Westmont Department of Sociology and Anthropology co-sponsor the event.

“All of us reconstruct our life stories or narratives in the wake of unexpected or traumatic events,” Jirek says. “This may lead to post-traumatic growth and positive life changes as a result of grappling with the aftermath of traumatic experiences. All of us, individually and collectively, play a role in facilitating trauma survivors’ healing and growth processes.”

Her research also suggests that trauma survivors’ gender may constrain the types of narratives they can construct about their lives, limiting their ability to process traumatic experiences and develop post-traumatic growth.

“We’re excited to continue the Gender Studies series, highlighting the work of faculty on areas that relate to overarching themes and questions of gender,” says Caryn Reeder, faculty organizer for the talk. “We’re delighted that Dr. Jirek has agreed to be part of the series and share insights from her research on trauma and the implications of gender for trauma survivors.”

Jirek, a Westmont alumna, earned a Master of Social Work and a doctorate in sociology and social work from the University of Michigan. Her other teaching and research interests include social inequalities, identity, violence, deviance, prison re-entry and resilience.