Psychological Experiences and Struggle for Social Acceptance and Justice Among Female Acid Attack Survivors in Pakistan

Acid violence is one of the most heinous types of violence against women in Pakistan . About 200 acid assaults occur in Pakistan annually (Batool et al., 2020).An epidemological investigation found that between 1994 and 2018, 9,340 women in Pakistan were the victims of acid assaults (Mujeeb et al., 2023).This study aimed to get a deep understanding of the psychological experiences and struggle for social acceptance and justice in female survivors of acid attacks in Pakistan. A qualitative research design was used to examine the experiences of acid survivors using a phenomenological approach. A semi-structured interview guide was used to interview twelve acid survivor females about their psychological experiences as well as their struggle for social acceptance and justice. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a five-step thematic analysis process. Seven major themes that emerged from the study were psychological distress, low self-esteem, social avoidance, social rejection, risk factor for under-reporting of cases and protective factors. The findings of the study revealed that acid attack is profoundly a traumatic experience that affects psychological well-being and create significant challenges in social integration and access to justice. This study provide unique insight into psychological findings and social struggles of acid attack survivors within cultural context of Pakistan. From a future perspective, the current research will aim to raise public awareness, enhance the profile of acid victims in scientific research, and help mental health professionals in deepening their understanding of acid attack survivors.