Self Damaging Circumstances: An Exploration of Gender and the Vacuum Identity As They Pertain To Self Injury

Abstract

This article explores the vacuum identity as it relates to self injury and the relationship between gender and self injury. The research done in this article is based on in depth interviews from ten participants from a small liberal arts college in the Mid-Atlantic region. Findings suggest that vacuum identity may be directly related to self injury through: 1) forming a new identity as a self injurer; or 2) to deal with the isolation felt by the vacuum identity. Findings also suggest that the link between women and self injury might pertain to the distress women feel over conflicting societal gender definitions and maintaining their gender role in a public domain. This research may contribute to counseling and social work in real-life applications to better understand self injury as a phenomenon.