scholarly journals Finding One's Footing When Everyone Has an Opinion. Negotiating an Acceptable Identity After Sexual Assault

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Dundas ◽  
Elin Mæhle ◽  
Signe Hjelen Stige
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Female Survivors ◽  
Clinical Center ◽  
Object Relationship

Identities used to describe oneself after trauma may influence recovery, and searches for acceptable identities after sexual assault can be challenging. Fifteen Norwegian female survivors of sexual assault were recruited at a clinical center, and were individually interviewed about post-assault discussions with others. Our focus was on the experiences of non-blaming and believing interactions with others, and how these interactions can be understood as a process of searching for acceptable identities after sexual assault. A reflexive thematic analysis resulted in four themes: navigating between other people's stories and one's own; realizing the seriousness of the assault without drowning in the upset of others; finding a place between too much closeness and too much distance; and being more than a victim. We discuss the importance of participants retaining agency in post-assault interactions. We suggest that being a survivor of sexual assault increases the probability, even in believing and non-blaming interactions, of being cast in a subject–object relationship with less freedom and agency than before. Navigating toward acceptable identities may mean working one's way back to being a subject in a subject–subject relationship again.

scholarly journals [De]-Centering the Victim: Police Perceptions of Victims of Sexual Violence through a Comparative Lens of Evidence Collection and Processing

2021 ◽  
pp. 155708512110319
Author(s):  
Deborah White ◽  
Lesley McMillan
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Evidence Collection ◽  
Police Perceptions

Police are central to the statutory response to sexual violence, shaping the direction an investigation may take. Evidence provided by victims is also key to the processing of sexual assault cases. From a 2013 comparative qualitative study involving interviews with police officers in one province in Canada ( n = 11) and one region in Scotland ( n = 10) who investigate such cases, we discovered striking unanticipated differences between the two groups in terms of how they perceived victims and the evidence they provide. This paper presents a thematic analysis of these data and considers possible implications and explanations.

‘You should tell somebody’: An evaluation of a survivor stories blog project to motivate sexual assault victims

2021 ◽  
pp. 001789692110164
Author(s):  
Rachel E Riggs
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
Positive Health Outcomes ◽  
Blog Posts

Objective: Sexual assault victims often do not disclose their assaults or seek positive health outcomes. The RAINN Survivor Stories project shares testimonials in the form of online blogs from sexual assault survivors to motivate and encourage others to come forward and disclose their assaults. This study aimed to better understand the themes present in the survivor stories to motivate victims to disclose their assaults and seek positive health outcomes. Design: A theoretical thematic analysis was conducted on blog posts created for the project to identify (a) how the posts tell survivor stories and (b) how the posts model positive health outcomes using social cognitive theory and the disclosure processes model as a guide. Setting: Online setting linked to the rainn.org website. Method: Blog posts were collected for inductive thematic analysis. Themes were identified based on their prevalence in the data and their pertinence to the research questions. Results: Emerging themes included (a) overcoming initial disclosure, (b) overcoming the lasting effects of victimisation, (c) utilising support and (d) advocating for others after assault. Conclusion: Findings offer insight to researchers and practitioners creating media messages for sexual assault victims and other stigmatised groups by expanding understanding of modelled positive health outcomes in media and the disclosure process of victims.

scholarly journals “When It’s a Girl, They Have a Chance to Have Sex With Them. When It’s a Boy…They Have Been Known to Rape Them”: Perceptions of United Nations Peacekeeper-Perpetrated Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Against Women/Girls Versus Men/Boys in Haiti

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A. Bartels ◽  
Carla King ◽  
Sabine Lee
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Female Sexuality ◽  
Gender Norms ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Survivors ◽  
Peacekeeping Missions

Peacekeeping missions have been marred by reports of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) against local community members. However, there is limited research on how SEA against women/girls versus men/boys is perceived in peacekeeping host societies. In 2017 we collected micro-narratives in Haiti and then conducted a thematic analysis to understand how peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA was perceived by local community members comparing SEA against women/girls versus SEA against men/boys. Both male and female participants used language which suggested the normalization, in Haitian society, of both transactional sex with and rape of women/girls by UN personnel. In contrast, peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA against men/boys was viewed as unacceptable and was associated with homosexuality and related stigmatization. Overall, our results suggest that in Haiti, inequitable gender norms, the commodification of female sexuality, and homophobia result in SEA against males being recognized as a wrong that elicits outrage, while SEA against women/girls has been normalized. It is important to address the normalization of SEA against women/girls to prevent future violence and to recognize that SEA is also perpetrated against men/boys. Survivor-centered programs, sensitive to the needs of both male and female survivors, are required.

Retrospective study of accused and survivors of sexual offences in Karnal, Haryana

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kumar W. ◽  
A. Pawar ◽  
B. Kaur ◽  
H. Singh ◽  
R. Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Young Generation ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Female Survivors ◽  
Gang Rape

Sexuality is a crucial part of people’s health, general well-being and quality of life and enjoying a healthy sexuality is well thought-out as a human right. But it is counted as sexual assault or rape if it is without her consent or against her will or when it is obtained by unlawful manners such as fraud, putting her in fear of death or hurt, drugging or impersonation. Sexual offences are traumatic at the time of occurrence and may also leave a very bad and negative impact on her physical and mental health. A retrospective study was performed after collecting Medico-legal reports done on survivors and accused in Government Hospital Karnal from January 2012 to April 2016. In the present study, Total 69 cases of alleged history of sexual assault were taken, out of which 38 cases of male accused and 31 cases of female survivors’ medico-legal reports were studied. The highest percentage of female survivors was among age group between 11-20 years (64.5 %). The highest percentage of male accused was among age group between 21-30 years (55.3 %). During examination it was found that 2 female survivors (6.5%) out of 31 cases had alleged h/o sexual assault at the same time. There were 3 cases (7.9%) of gang rape. Out of these three cases of gang rape, in two cases (66.7%), two each accused persons were involved and in one case (33.3%) four accused were involved. In rest of the cases single male accused was involved. It is seen that younger aged females are at maximum risk for sexual assault threat and young adult males are active in these sexual assault activities. So it is important to give sex education to our young generation and make them aware.

scholarly journals Comparing Help-Seeking Behavior of Male and Female Survivors of Sexual Assault: A Content Analysis of a Hotline

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Young ◽  
Jana A. Pruett ◽  
Marianna L. Colvin
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Help Seeking Behavior ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Female Survivors ◽  
Seeking Behavior

This content analysis examines written documentation of telephone calls to a regional sexual assault hotline over a 5-year period. All male callers identified as primary victims were selected for analysis ( n = 58) and a corresponding sample of female primary victims ( n = 58) were randomly selected for comparison to better understand the help-seeking behavior of sexual assault survivors and inform services accordingly. A summative content analysis revealed significant contrasting themes between male and female victims, including females significantly receiving more referrals and males accessing the hotline to tell their experience of being sexually assaulted due to perceived limited support. Implications for training, practice, and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals “I Felt Powerful and Confident”: Women’s Use of What They Learned in Feminist Sexual Assault Resistance Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 036168432110439
Author(s):  
Sara E. Crann ◽  
Charlene Y. Senn ◽  
H. Lorraine Radtke ◽  
Karen L. Hobden
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Unwanted Sex ◽  
University Women ◽  
Resistance Strategies ◽  
Imminent Threat

Research on women’s response and resistance to sexual assault risk has informed the development of interventions to improve women’s ability to effectively resist sexual assault. However, little is known about how women anticipate, navigate, and respond to risk following participation in sexual assault risk reduction/resistance education programs. In this study, we examined the information and skills used by university women who had recently completed the effective Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) sexual assault resistance program. We analyzed responses from 445 women using descriptive statistics and content and thematic analysis. Just under half (42%) of women used at least one EAAA strategy in the following 2 years. Most women reported that their efforts were successful in stopping an attack. Women’s responses included strategies both to preempt sexual assault threat (e.g., avoiding men who display danger cues, communicating assertively about wanted and unwanted sex) and to interrupt or avoid an imminent threat (e.g., yelling, hitting, and kicking). Women’s use of resistance strategies worked to subvert gendered social norms and socialization. The results suggest that counter to criticisms that risk reduction/resistance programs blame women or make them responsible for stopping men’s violence, women who took EAAA typically positioned themselves as agentic and empowered in their resistance.

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