Les violences de genre dans l’espace public représentent un défi sociétal majeur, mais leurs impacts et les moyens par lesquels les femmes y font face restent peu étudiés. Dans cette étude, des entretiens semi-directifs menés auprès de dix femmes françaises, âgées de 26 à 52 ans, explorent leur vécu et leurs mécanismes d’adaptation. L’analyse thématique montre que ces violences affectent la santé mentale, entraînant des réactions et comportements pouvant s’apparenter à des manifestations traumatiques. Elles sont amplifiées par l’oppression, les antécédents de victimisation et les violences institutionnelles. Les femmes mobilisent des ressources externes (soutien social, services d’aide) et internes (intellectualisation, communication, confiance en soi) pour réduire les risques et renforcer leur sentiment d’efficacité. Elles développent un réseau social, s’engagent dans l’activisme et se réapproprient l’espace public via un sentiment d’appartenance communautaire. Des implications cliniques, sociétales et de recherche sont discutées.

Gender-based violence in the public space poses a major societal challenge, yet little is known about its impact and the ways in which women resist it. In this study, semistructured interviews were conducted with ten French women aged between 26 and 52, to explore their experiences and coping strategies in the face of such violence. Through thematic analysis method, the results show that such violence affects the women's mental health, resulting in reactions and behaviours that can be likened to traumatic manifestations. Experiences of oppression, histories of victimization, institutional and social violence combine with gender-based violence in the public space to amplify its impact. Women have external resources at their disposal, such as social support and victim services, as well as internal resources such as intellectualization, communication skills and confidence in their ability to defend themselves. They succeed in reducing the risks and consequences associated with these, but also in boosting their sense of efficacy and engaging in personal growth projects. They build a social network, elaborate and transmit their experiences through activism. The reappropriation of public space is enabled by a sense of belonging to a community. Clinical, societal and research implications are discussed.