The challenge of supervision and action research in cases of sexual abuse: teachers and their questions

Abstract

After four years developing an action research directed to family care in groups, involving cases of sexual abuse in children and adolescents, the researchers tried to learn the feelings and difficulties, in the research implementation, experienced by teachers who coordinate, supervise, attend and are responsible for the project. Six university teachers, responsible and active in the project were the study subjects: five were female and one male, with ages between 30 and 57 years, bachelor's degree from 10 to 33 years. The instrument was sent and replied by e-mail. The results showed that emotional issues, gender and personal experience are present in the supervision of this theme. The female supervisors, although seen as fragile for being women, significantly contribute for public and political life through the creation of opportunities for women and children, so that they can express themselves and also evidence hierarchy and power issues.