Search

Alarm has been raised by the mainstream anti-rape movement in the United States at the compounded nature of sexual violence experienced by survivors during the Covid pandemic. While these efforts show renewed attention at the problem of compounded sexual violence, these framings of sexual violence as compounded miss the intersectional oppressions experienced by marginalized survivors, such as survivors of color living through a pandemic. This profile advocates for an intervention, asking anti-rape activist-advocates to turn toward an anti-rape movement that addresses the 'compounded-squared' effects of sexual violence during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual assault rates are increasing with ride-shares. Sexual violence data are often underestimated due to sexual violence cases going unreported and can lead to negative health outcomes. There is no research on the phenomenon of sexual assaults among ride-share users. This manuscript investigates sexual assaults from two ride-share companies and the policies/procedures in place to prevent sexual assaults. The data from two ride-share companies' previous Safety Reports were compared to see an increase in sexual assaults. The researchers looked at policies and regulations that ride-share companies have to prevent sexual assault. There is a call for research to investigate more in-depth the sexual assaults that have occurred including demographic data, geographic location, global positioning system failure, and the effectiveness of the criminal background checks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) are now part of the criminal justice landscape in various parts of the world. While CoSA have received considerable media attention, it is not yet known how they are portrayed in the media. This study addressed this gap by analyzing newspaper coverage of CoSA from across the English-speaking world. Overall, it identified that representations of those convicted of sexual violence in print media accounts of CoSA differ substantially from those identified in previous scholarship. We argue therefore that the nature of CoSA as an intervention may allow for more sympathetic and humanistic representation. The findings provide a platform from which the international CoSA community can develop strategic approaches to interacting with the media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Five distinct forms of violence - Physical, Verbal, Sexual, Cyber, and Relational - persistently afflict sexual minorities worldwide. The presence of feminine attributes in Men who have Sex with Men is inherently linked to a heightened susceptibility to various manifestations of violence, thereby exerting detrimental repercussions on both the physical and mental well-being of these individuals. This correlation stands as a principal contributor to the alarmingly elevated rates of suicide attempts among Men who have Sex with Men, particularly during their early years. Data and Methods: This cross-sectional study investigates the risk factors for violence against Men who have Sex with Men in six metropolitan cities across India. Quantitative data were gathered from 300 self-identified Men who have Sex with Men, with 240 providing only quantitative data, while both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a subset of 60 respondents, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years. Quantitative analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression to explore the likelihood of different types of violence. Qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews, were analyzed thematically to provide contextual depth and validate the quantitative findings, focusing on specific incidents and key themes associated with violence among Men who have Sex with Men. Results: More than 60 per cent of the respondents encountered at least one type of violence due to their sexuality. More than half of the respondents who engaged in the receptive role during sexual activity reported experiencing sexual violence. The likelihood of encountering verbal violence was found to be nearly six times higher among respondents who were receptive than penetrative sexual partners. Respondents of Muslim religion exhibited a 2.6-fold increase in the likelihood of experiencing sexual violence compared to their Hindu counterparts. Conclusion: Violence against Men who have Sex with Men is a pervasive issue in the six metropolitan cities studied in India, particularly affecting individuals with lower education and low income. These findings resonate with global research, which identifies similar risk factors for violence against sexual minorities, especially in regions with deep-rooted homophobia and socio-economic inequalities. Insights from this study underscore the urgent need for targeted policies and interventions to create a safer, more inclusive environment for this population in India and other parts of the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the harrowing use of sexual violence as a tool in the ethnic cleansing of Germans in post‐World War II Czechoslovakia. By examining the grim realities of internment camps, prisons, and border regions, it reveals a disturbing pattern of abuse aimed primarily at German women by Czech men. This violence was not isolated but integral to the broader project of national cleansing, laying bare the patriarchal foundations of Czechoslovak society. State policies, including the differential treatment of mixed marriages, reinforced a male‐dominated ethos. By stripping Germans of their citizenship and legal protections, Czech authorities fostered a climate of impunity, allowing a wave of sexual violence to persist through the ‘German transfers’. The article sheds light on this dark chapter, exposing how rape was used to reaffirm Czech men's dominance in the nation's postwar rebirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survivors of adult sexual assault and child sexual abuse – together encompassing sexual violence (SV) – experience a number of adverse consequences. High rates of self-blame can lead to increased symptomatology and treatment resistance. There has been a paucity of studies of men who have experienced SV, particularly about self-blame. For this study, 179 cisgender male survivors of SV completed an online survey to explore the relationships among 10 variables, including trauma-related self-blame, rape myth acceptance, tonic immobility, disclosure experiences, sexual arousal, and substance use. Multiple regression analyses and t-tests were used to test the study hypotheses. Results indicate that 93% of the sample reported some level of self-blame. However, only rape myth acceptance was strongly associated with self-blame. Additionally, participants who used substances within 12 hours prior to their SV had higher rates of self-blame, as did participants who had not previously disclosed their abuse. Exploratory analyses also found a significant difference in self-blame between those who experienced SV in childhood and adulthood versus those who only experienced SV in either childhood or adulthood. The findings of this research highlight the high rates of self-blame and how imperative it is to provide psychoeducation about the variables discussed in this study and to normalize these experiences, especially for less well-known phenomena such as physiological sexual arousal and TI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisexual (i.e. those with attraction to multiple genders) women experience disparities in sexual violence and mental health outcomes, including PTSD, depression, and hazardous drinking, compared to lesbian and heterosexual women. Unique stigma due to bisexual identity (antibisexual stigma), negative reactions to sexual violence (SV) disclosure (e.g. victim blaming), and prior child sexual abuse (CSA) may all contribute to shame. We tested whether shame explained the associations of antibisexual stigma, negative reactions to SV disclosure, and CSA severity with PTSD symptoms, depression, and hazardous drinking among young bisexual women. Participants who self-identified as bisexual women, between the ages of 18–35, residing in the US were recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and completed online questionnaires. Women who reported SV since age 18 that they disclosed to someone were included in the current study, yielding a sample of 156 bisexual women (Mage = 25.7; 98.1% cisgender, 86.5% White). Path analysis with bias-corrected bootstrapping was conducted. There were significant direct effects of negative reactions on hazardous drinking and CSA on PTSD, and direct effects of shame on PTSD and depression symptoms. Shame explained the associations of antibisexual stigma, negative reactions, and CSA with PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and hazardous drinking. Shame may explain why stigmatizing experiences related to bisexual identity, sexual violence, and CSA history relate to distress among bisexual women. Shame is an important treatment target among bisexual survivors of SV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay uses a microhistory of Chinese comfort women during the Asia-Pacific War to illuminate the gendered dynamics of violence and the contrasting emotions experienced by both sexually abused women and their Japanese perpetrators, forming a perpetrator-victim dyad. The essay employs the concept of intersectional emotions within a micro-historical framework to demonstrate that this violence against Chinese women, marked by racialization, constitutes one of the many facets of wartime violence. This violence manifests in two contrasting emotional responses that characterize the dyadic interactions against the backdrop of widespread violence during the Asia-Pacific War. This analysis is highly relevant in contexts of power-saturated sites defined by multi-layered violence that is racial, gendered, and imperial. By investigating the dichotomy of emotive dimensions of violence, this essay contributes to a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay among emotions, violence, gender, race, and imperialism. This examination reveals insights into the emotional framework governing the dynamics of violence and challenges the prevailing assumption of uniformity in studies of violence against victim-survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contends that sexual violence lies at the heart of Proust's The Fugitive. Most strikingly, Albertine's secret is not merely that she is a lesbian: she is rumoured to be guilty of consorting with Morel to groom and abuse impoverished and vulnerable young girls. Critics have – until now – ended to avert their eyes from this dark episode. Proustian sexuality, Rose demonstrates, thus consorts closely with crime, in ways that can only sometimes be sublimated or transfigured into art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how British secondary school students responded to and made sense of the rising public awareness of sexual violence in British society that emerged during lockdowns for COVID-19. Based on the findings from a 2021–2022 study conducted in five secondary schools, the article explores the gendered discrepancies in girls' and boys' awareness of violence against girls and women. In particular, it examines how the youth participants in this study responded to two related media stories during lockdown: the news of Sarah Everard's kidnapping and murder by a police officer and the viral spread of sexual abuse testimonies on the 'Everyone's Invited' Instagram page and website. The article demonstrates how girls were more likely to experience, recognize, and discuss sexual violence, in part due to feminist consciousness raising during lockdown via digital technologies like Instagram and TikTok. Although some boys did recognize the problem of violence against women, in general, they were much less aware of Sarah Everard's murder and Everyone's Invited and were prone to absorbing manosphere-like discourses around false rape accusations In focus groups, some boys deployed a defensive masculinity and adopted a discourse of male victimhood, which denied the scale and scope of violence against girls and women. However, through involving boys in focus group discussion with both us and their male peers about power and privilege, progress was made in challenging and counteracting rape myths and anti-feminist male victimization narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutions of higher education (IHEs) often disseminate risk reduction strategies intended to reduce sexual assault victimization and/or perpetration. This research examined the content and context of publicly available risk reduction strategies offered by a nationally representative sample of 4-year IHEs in the United States (N = 242; public and private not-for-profit institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Tribal institutions). We identified strategies for 102 (42%) IHEs. Using a sociocognitive approach to critical discourse analysis, we examined the specific messages conveyed via IHE risk reduction strategies, how larger sociocultural discourses and power structures were reproduced or reinforced, and the potential implications for readers (i.e., university students). Nearly all IHEs directed their strategies toward potential victims. These strategies were broad in scope, imploring behavioral modification and restriction (e.g., never be alone), and requiring specific responses to sexual assault (e.g., physical resistance). Fewer IHEs directed their strategies toward potential perpetrators; these strategies were narrower in scope, focusing on sexual consent. Overall, strategies reproduced rape myths (e.g., stranger-perpetrated assault is common) and positioned potential victims as uniquely responsible for preventing sexual assault—messaging that may be particularly harmful when disseminated by powerful institutions responsible for sexual assault prevention and response. IHEs should assess the utility of risk reduction strategies and, if retained, revise their strategies to counter harmful sexual assault messaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual homicides (SHs) demand nuanced research for effective prevention, treatment, risk assessment and theoretical insights. Intimate‐partner sexual homicides (IPSHs), comprising approximately 20% of SHs, have received limited attention. This study compares IPSHs (n = 56) and non‐intimate partner sexual homicides (NIPSHs) (n = 236) in Australia and New Zealand by investigating offender, victim, and crime‐scene characteristics. While IPSH perpetrators were typically older, separated, and had prior domestic violence convictions, victims were more often non‐white with histories of domestic violence and substance use. Although crime‐scene locations and post‐offence behaviours differed, similar crime scene behaviours were displayed across offender groups, which seemed to be routed in different underlying motives. Whereas drivers of IPSH commonly were grievance and anger, associated with offences occurring after arguments, drivers for NIPSH were more often sexual deviance and sadism. Overall, IPSH encompasses aspects of domestic violence, homicide, and sexual violence, distinguishing it from SH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stalking can be defined as a pattern of fixated, repeated, and unwanted behaviours. Stalking is not an isolated incident and was associated to sexual violence. While the relationship between sexual violence and stalking is scarcely explored, no studies have tested the relationship between stalking and sexual homicide, which both involves elements of obsession. The aim of this paper was to study the relationship between stalking and sexual homicide using an exploratory case study analysis of 7 males convicted for sexual homicide. Results revealed: (1) The presence of obsession prior to the homicide; (2) The victims were ex‐intimate partners or acquaintances; (3) The victims were followed several times prior to the index offence; (4) Stalking elements were not always considered by the authorities, which has led to an escalation of behaviours. This study expands our understanding between stalking and sexual violence, supporting the design of prevention and treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, sexual violence is a significant public health issue. Although any person can be victimized, the vast majority of sexual violence is perpetrated by men against women. Research has increasingly explored the experiences of victims, however, the perspectives of male perpetrators of sexual violence have largely been sidelined. This limits the ability to design effective public health and policy responses to sexual violence. Our aim was to synthesize the available peer-reviewed qualitative research exploring the perspectives of adult male perpetrators of sexual violence against women. Five databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL and SocINDEX. We included qualitative, peer-reviewed English-language studies published in the past 40 years, focused on the perceptions and experiences of male perpetrators of sexual violence. Fourteen articles (describing 12 studies) were identified. Most (10) of the articles examined the perspectives of convicted male sex offenders serving a custodial sentence. Of the remaining four articles, two focused on anonymous users of the online forum, Reddit.com, and the remaining two focused on students on university campuses. These four articles were the most recent. We developed four major themes from our thematic analysis of the study findings that represent the experiences and perceptions of male perpetrators of sexual violence. These themes describe deflecting blame onto the victim, external circumstances as mitigating factors, or the perpetrator's uncontrollable biological urges. One theme involved some expression of remorse or acceptance of responsibility. Although our findings may have implications for prevention and rehabilitation programs, further research is urgently needed in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance-involved rape is increasing among college students, particularly women (Koss et al., 2022). Addressing rape requires first measuring it accurately in surveys to understand its true scope and nature. We used cognitive interviews with 40 young adults to qualitatively test the construct validity of an alcohol- and other drugs (AOD)-involved rape item in the Sexual Experiences Survey by asking participants to comment on different operationalizations of this construct. Our findings revealed that different phrasings elicited different interpretations of the items by participants. Specifically, the results indicated that (1) respondents viewed the different operationalizations as a sequence of events with varying severity; (2) some participants focused on the intentionality and responsibility of the perpetrator as opposed to opportunistic perpetration; and (3) study participants consistently chose one of the operationalizations as describing "being roofied" (being drugged without consent). Participants also contributed additional scenarios not described in the questionnaire and shared their interpretations of the items. The results underscore the importance of refining survey language to properly measure AOD-involved rape and allow us to understand how to tailor appropriate questions for best comprehension. The findings indicate the benefit in including several items about AOD-involved rape in questionnaires such as the Sexual Experiences Survey, with each item addressing different scenarios of victim intoxication. The results could also have important implications for sexual violence prevention programs, which should discuss consent, intentions, and responsibility specifically in the context of AOD consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When contemporary worship music emerged over fifty years ago, it was born in part out of the desire for more intimate worship. Widely adopted by white evangelicals, intimate lyrics have granted the genre the nickname of "Jesus is my boyfriend" music. Recently, language for God's love has depicted an aggressive, overwhelming force through words like "reckless," "jealous," and "insatiable." This article examines connections between this language, sexual intimacy and consent, and evangelical worship. In line with feminist liturgists who have long considered how gendered religious language impacts women's experiences, it explores the gendered impacts of contemporary worship music's intimate and aggressive lyrics. Following analysis of several songs that use this language, the article concludes with suggestions for how language and worship structures could be altered to provide respect and agency to worshippers of all genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year 2015 saw a series of mobilisations, primarily by young students in India, which sought to destigmatise and visibilise the menstruating body through online activism and university-based campaigns in Delhi, Kolkata and Kochi. These campaigns foregrounded sexual violence and harassment through the lens of menstruation, pointing towards the institutional apathy towards sexual violence, yet disgust towards menstrual blood. By defying menstrual taboos and the prescribed menstrual etiquettes in home, community and institutional spaces and dispelling the shame, silence and stigma that define the menstrual experience, the campaigns disrupted the notion of the 'normal' body as 'one that does not bleed from the vagina'. The article situates the destigmatising menstruation campaigns vis-à-vis other gender justice campaigns and protests that have taken place over the last decade in India, highlighting the cross-cutting similarities of themes as well as the distinctive dimensions of the campaigns that are the subject of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failings of mainstream Western criminal justice systems in dealing with sexual violence cases, including the potential revictimization and retraumatization, are well established. Accordingly, demand has grown for alternative justice mechanisms. Project Restore NZ is funded by the New Zealand government to facilitate specialist restorative justice processes for sexual violence cases in Aotearoa New Zealand. Referrals come both from the community and from the New Zealand criminal justice system. This research investigated the experiences and perspectives of both persons harmed and persons responsible who undertook a restorative justice process through Project Restore. A survey was made available to participants between 2016 and 2019 and was completed by 37 persons harmed and 28 persons responsible. Comprising both multi-choice quantitative and open-ended qualitative questions, the survey explored the preparatory stage, motivations, and outcomes of the restorative justice process, as well as the emotional and practical experiences of the process itself. Although there is some variation in responses, the findings indicate that a majority of both persons harmed and persons responsible generally had positive perspectives on and experiences of the restorative justice processes offered by Project Restore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual violence is a violation of women's rights, resulting in significant physical and psychological challenges and adverse reproductive health outcomes. Addressing these issues demands urgent public health interventions and support systems to mitigate the profound impact on individuals and societies. Thus, this study aimed to assess sexual violence against ever-married reproductive-age women in East Africa. Methods: Data retrieved from the recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of East African countries was used, and a weighted sample of 40,740 ever-married reproductive-age women was included. To identify factors associated with sexual violence, multilevel mixed-effects models utilizing robust Poisson regression were applied. Akaike's and Bayesian information criteria, as well as deviance, were utilized to compare the models. In the multivariable regression model, adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate the strength of association, with statistical significance set at a p-value < 0.05. Result: The pooled proportion of sexual violence among ever-married reproductive-age women in East Africa was 13.05% (95% CI: 12.74–13.36). The multivariable multilevel robust Poisson regression revealed that age at first cohabitation/marriage, having a primary educational level, being employed, residing in a female-headed household, having a husband/partner who drinks alcohol, and living in rural areas were positively associated with sexual violence. On the contrary, having secondary and higher educational levels and living in communities with a high proportion of uneducated women were negatively associated with sexual violence. Conclusion: Empowering girls and women through education reduces their vulnerability. Effective programs should prioritize workplace safety, financial independence, and robust legal protections against harassment and abuse. Raising awareness about the impact of alcohol abuse on relationships and the heightened risk of sexual violence is crucial. Moreover, enhancing access to support services and community networks, especially in rural areas, is essential for preventing and responding to sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though sexual violence can impact people across genders, sexual orientations, ages, and incomes, societal inequities can increase the risk of experiencing sexual violence. Such inequities are often intersectional in nature (e.g., racism and sexism) and may impact a person’s ability to engage in help-seeking for experiences of sexual violence, especially among those who perceive themselves to be a burden on others or society as a whole. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the association between experiencing sexual violence, intersectional oppression, and perceived burdensomeness on barriers to help-seeking among Black American young adults. Participants (n = 289) completed an online questionnaire assessing constructs of interest. We found that half of our sample experienced any sexual violence and nearly three-fourths experienced more than one form of intersectional oppression (e.g., racism, sexism, and homophobia). Ultimately, we found that sexual violence and perceived burdensomeness – but not intersectional oppression – were correlates of experiencing barriers to help-seeking. Through incorporating multiple marginalized identities beyond Black race, our findings can expand our understanding of barriers to help-seeking among diverse Black sexual violence survivors, while revealing a new area for practitioners, healthcare providers, social workers, and related professionals to focus intervention strategies on: perceived burdensomeness. These findings are relevant to all who care for the health and well-being of those who have experienced sexual violence, chronic stress (due to singular and multiple forms of discrimination), and/or other traumas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Sexual Violence Relief center Soccorso Violenza Sessuale (SVS) is a specialist service, situated in Sant'Anna Hospital, an Obstetrics and Gynecology facility in Turin, North-West Italy. The study aimed to qualitatively analyze the transcripts of interviews routinely conducted by gynecologist and midwife in the first part of the medical examination of migrant patients accessing care at SVS after being subjected to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in their home country or during migration and to explore the adverse outcomes of such violence on their health. Methods: Interview transcripts were purposely selected to include adult migrant patients (age > 18) subjected to CRSV in the different phases of migration and accessing SVS from January 1st, 2014, to September 4th, 2023. Data was extracted from the SVS archive, anonymized, and thematically analyzed. Results and discussion: In total, 43 interview transcripts were eligible for inclusion. All of them were related to cisgender women of Sub-Saharan origin describing different forms of violence as a driver for migration. CRSV was disclosed by 18 survivors as occurring in their home country and by 31 in transit (e.g., Libya), the most reported type being rape. 49% of the patients described adverse physical outcomes of CRSV, while 72% reported psychological sequelae. The findings confirm high levels and different modalities of violence throughout the migratory route. Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts served as a valuable source for understanding how survivors described the CRSV they endured, its consequences, as well as other violence encountered during migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual violence among higher education students is a global public health problem. Identifying the characteristics of students who report victimization can serve as basis for programmes that target vulnerable students. Methods: The study was conducted among 30,114 Nigerian higher education students. They were selected from 18 institutions comprising universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The purpose of the study was to assess the characteristics of students who reported sexual violence (rape, attempted rape and sexual harassment) and to determine the association between reporting and their characteristics. Results: Our findings showed that 37% of the students reported experiencing sexual violence. Regression analysis showed that the odds of reporting among female students were two times greater than that of the male students (CI = 1.58–1.78; P < 0.001). The students who were traditionalists (aOR = 2.65, p < 0.001) or from other religious groups (aOR = 3.28, p < 0.001) had higher odds of reporting than those who were Christians. All the age groups represented in the study had significantly higher odds of reporting except those between 25 and 29 years (aOR = 1.03; p = 0.616). Non-final year students had significantly 7% lower odds of reporting (p = 0.037) than the first-year students. The students in the arts and humanities-related programmes significantly had higher odds of reporting than those in the science-related programs (aOR = 1.08; p = 0043). In addition, polytechnic and colleges of education students were two times more likely to report sexual violence than university students (p < 0.001). Also, the students from other regions were two times more likely to report sexual violence than those from Southwest region. Conclusion: The study concluded that sexual violence reporting by higher education students differ by their types of schools, sex, religion, level of education and geographical location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people represent a small percent of the population and yet, they experience sexual violence (SV) at disproportionately high rates compared to their cisgender counterparts. Little is known about how SV relates to TGD people’s gender identity and their ability to engage in posttraumatic growth (PTG). The purpose of the present study is to gain a nuanced understanding of the role that SV plays in the lives of TGD people. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight TGD participants, and an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) revealed two superordinate (i.e. negative impacts of SV on self and factors that facilitated recovery from SV) and twelve subordinate (i.e. systemic oppression, mental health outcomes, gender dysphoria and transitioning, difficulties with disclosure, lack of resources, physical intimacy, advocacy, connection and support, strengths, posttraumatic growth, affirming resources, and hope) themes. Implications for practice include the use of gender-affirming interventions; understanding the potential interplay between gender dysphoria, oppression, and trauma; and exploration of strengths and avenues for growth. Directions for future research include the use of diverse samples and a mixed-method approach to studying this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this interview, Corban Addison exposes the harsh reality of child sex trafficking in India and across borders with his first-hand experiences with victims, survivors, and activists. Addison has written books on human rights, injustice in the world, and its culture. His works include A Walk Across the Sun (2012), The Garden of Burning Sand (2013), The Tears of Dark Water (2015), A Harvest of Thorns (2017), and Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial (2022). Addison, being an engineer, lawyer, and author, began experimenting with writing at the age of fifteen years. He has used his profession as a lawyer in his writing to depict human atrocities, provide validity to victims, and advocate the abolition of modern slavery through his narratives. In this conversation, Addison talks about how he ended up writing A Walk Across the Sun while discussing sexual slavery, his background research, and how he was able to understand the experiences and trauma of sexual violence. He shares anecdotes of his journey to tsunami-affected areas, brothels, and meetings with victims and activists and how he portrays the sexual violence, trauma, and redemption from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment examines how a police interviewer’s judgment error and apology affect a sexual violence victim’s secondary victimization, trust in the interviewer, rapport, and willingness to provide information. Ninety students from Peru were asked to imagine being sexual violence victims and were interviewed online by a mock police interviewer. Participants were randomized into three conditions: judgment error without apology, judgment error with apology, and a no-error control. The judgment error involved suggesting the victim was partly responsible for their victimhood, citing women’s clothing choices and questioning men’s masculinity. Our findings show judgment errors reduced trust, rapport, and willingness to provide information while increasing secondary victimization; apologizing improved trust and rapport but did not affect secondary victimization or willingness to provide information. These outcomes indicate that judgment errors in sexual violence victim interviews can negatively impact the interviewing process and outcomes and highlight the importance of an apology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented rise in attacks on women's rights and freedom in sub‐Saharan Africa. No historical quantitative research exists that analyzes how sexual, physical, and emotional violence against women is influenced by the rise of radical Islam in Nigeria. Consecutive survey data for the years 2008, 2013, and 2018 were analyzed to determine associations between religion and other risk factors for violence against women. Multiple logistic regression was used to control for covariates. Sexual violence against Muslim women increased by 216.7% compared to a 25.4% increase among Catholics. Muslim women with no education had a lower estimate of the sexual violence they experienced (β = −0.15, CI: −0.137 to −0.016) than Christian women with no education (β = −0.05, CI: −0.138 to −0.004). The risk of violence against women has increased in recent years due to the activities of Boko Haram in the Muslim‐dominant north. We show that the effects of religion and education on violence against women are interconnected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the complex decision-making processes of sexual violence survivors regarding public disclosure of their experiences. By constructing a cognitive map from interviews with ten media consultants, this research highlights that survivors often prefer seeking justice through social media rather than legal channels. This study was conducted in Israel, and it underscores the importance survivors place on the disclosure process itself, valuing voice and respect over the outcome. This research, part of a larger project that includes interviews with victims, focuses on the choice between social media and institutional channels, analyzing cognitive processes through the lens of media consultants. While the constructed cognitive map provides a clear framework for understanding the decisions made by survivors of sexual violence, it simplifies complex emotional and psychological factors. Future research may enhance this map by incorporating a deeper analysis of survivors' internal conflicts and the interplay between emotional coping mechanisms and external pressures to disclose their experiences. From background conversations with survivors, it was understood that two main factors influence their decision: the process versus the outcome and whether to turn to social media or institutional channels. This nuanced approach provides valuable insights into the specific choices made by survivors when determining where to disclose their assaults. By designing this cognitive map, this study helps understand the needs and priorities of the survivors, such as the importance of voice, respect, and the nature of the disclosure process, and aims to aid future research and decision makers in better understanding and supporting the decision-making processes of sexual violence survivor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I have addressed the issue of sexual violence in the specific context of the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage in Delhi. Though a significant number of cases of sexual assault took place in Delhi in November 1984, they have largely remained shrouded in obscurity. I have attempted to analyse the reasons, prompting a near total silence on these instances. In undertaking this inquiry, the paper reflects on the selective, and often disempowering, nature of memory-making and preservation. It goes on to ask the critical question: what constitutes legitimate memory? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an average of five rape cases reported in Malaysia on a daily basis. The problem lies not in the hands of an individual or a few misogynistic men but in society as a whole. It lies in the mind-set of the people and every one of us taking part in rape culture by endorsing rape myths. Rape myth acceptance within the Malaysian society encourages sexual assaults or sexual violence. Some of the popular rape myths are the victim's choice of clothing, emotional reactions of victims, presence of physical injuries, rape happens between strangers, women lie about rape, and men cannot be raped. These most common rape myths are discussed and then debunked. Subsequently, the aftermath of rape is explained. Proactive actions against rape are also presented as many of the existing school-based programs against rape are lopsided as women are taught on how to avoid rape instead of men being taught to respect women and prevent rape. This article aims to serve as an eye-opener for Malaysian counselors, psychologists, educators, and society as a whole to build up their knowledge, skills, and experience when working or dealing with rape victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The #MeToo movement and social media have increased public awareness of sexual violence, particularly when committed by high-profile celebrities. Presently, we are within a unique sociocultural space, often referred to as "cancel culture," in which perpetrators of sexual violence may face increased accountability. However, "cancelation" is not equally applied to all perpetrators. The purpose of this study was to explore the roles of perpetrator likeability and tactic (i.e., force and coercion) on the degree to which perpetrators are "canceled" (i.e., held accountable through personal, professional, and legal repercussions) for sexual assault. Among a sample of 238 participants, results of this experimental vignette study revealed that perpetrators viewed as unlikeable received more blame than those who were likeable or described in a neutral manner, with the survivors in the likeable perpetrator and neutral scenarios receiving greater blame. Moreover, perpetrators who used coercion were less likely to be blamed and be held accountable than those who used force, with the survivors in the coercive scenarios receiving greater blame. No interaction effects emerged between likeability and tactic, suggesting that the main effects operate independently of one another. Though the #MeToo movement and cancel culture have created cultural change in the United States, the findings from this study suggest that perpetrators continue to be held less accountable, so long as they are not unlikeable and do not use force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty years after the beginning of the transition in Argentina and 50 years after the Chilean coup d'état, this article analyzes the sexual violence against women implemented in clandestine detention centers (CDCs) as political, terrorist, and genocidal violence. Through a qualitative approach to the testimonies of former political prisoners, this paper aims to understand sexual violence against women in the experiences of concentration camps as a specific form of violence within the framework of conservative reconstructions of the civil-military dictatorships in Argentina and Chile. This violence, which was a total patriarchal act, not only sought to punish and discipline “deviant” female militants, but also to harm militant men. Likewise, it was established as a permanent threat against female detainees and a way of suppressing change and subjective, cultural, and social subversions, which, in parallel or as part of the political experience, developed in the countries of the Latin American Southern Cone. It is argued that sexual violence is a form of terrorism and genocide, since it projects terror into a specific group of the population and seeks to annul the possibility of being a woman when she breaks with the sacralized mandates of the patriarchal order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La clinique révèle la fréquente absence de honte chez les auteurs de violences sexuelles comme un négatif de la honte éprouvée par les victimes. Nous avons cherché à comprendre ce paradoxe en analysant les dynamiques de l'introjection de la honte dans l'identification à l'agresseur chez la victime et l'injection de la honte dans l'identification projective de l'agresseur sur sa victime. Nous nous sommes intéressés à Louis, un prêtre destitué, condamné pour comportements pédocriminels. Cette étude fait partie d'une recherche doctorale qualitative menée auprès d'une population de sujets incarcérés à partir d'entretiens de recherche structurés autour du récit de vie. Nous observons chez Louis, comme souvent chez nos sujets de recherche auteurs de violences sexuelles, que derrière l'apparente absence de honte, se dessine une grande honte inconsciente, tout d'abord introjectée dans les abus subis, puis retournée et injectée dans la relation intersubjective et dans les abus commis, comme moyen de décharge d'une honte insupportable. L'introjection de la honte de l'agresseur par sa victime dans la dynamique de l'identification à l'agresseur décrite par Ferenczi apparaît comme la réciproque de l'injection de la honte par l'agresseur à sa victime dans la dynamique de l'identification projective : une identification projective ordinaire sous la forme d'un retournement projectif de la honte et une identification projective opératoire sous la forme de comportements violents et pervers. Le mécanisme des vases communicants psychiques de la honte chez les auteurs et victimes de violences sexuelles, entre injection et introjection, permet de mieux comprendre le caractère contagieux de cet affect dans l'étiologie des violences sexuelles. Forensic clinical investigation frequently reveals the absence of shame in perpetrators of sexual violence while simultaneously victims seem overwhelmed by shame. We sought to understand this paradox by analyzing the dynamics of the introjection of shame in victims' identification with the aggressor and of the injection of shame in the aggressor's projective identification with his victim. We focused on the case of Louis, a dismissed priest, sentenced for pedocriminal behavior. This case is part of a qualitative research project conducted on a population of 14 inmates of a Parisian prison and based on interviews structured around the individual's life story and analyzed with the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology. We observe that behind Louis's apparent absence of shame, as with many of our research subjects guilty of sexual violence, there is, in fact, a great deal of unconscious shame, first introjected by the victim in the abuse suffered, and later injected in the victim in the abuse committed as a means to unload an unbearable shame. The introjection of the shame of the aggressor by his victim in the dynamic of Ferenczi's identification with the aggressor appears as a complement to the injection of shame by the aggressor into his victim through the dynamic of projective identification: both an ordinary projective identification in the form of a projective reversal of shame, and an operative projective identification in the form of perverse behaviors. The communicating vessels of shame among perpetrators and victims of sexual violence, between injection and introjection, help us better understand the contagious characteristics of shame in the etiology of sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the psychometric properties of the Sexually Aggressive Behaviors Scale (SABS) in a sample of 1,632 heterosexual Portuguese female college students, aged between 18 and 39 years old (M = 22.40; SD = 4.31). The internal structure of the scale was investigated, along with analyses of the internal consistency, and validity evidence in relation to external variables. Participants completed an online survey that was disseminated using Portuguese universities' mailing lists and social networks. Results supported a single factor solution consisting of 10 items. Evidence was gathered in favor of the internal consistency and convergent/discriminant validity in relation to other variables, such as rape myths, psychopathic traits, and perception of intimacy. This study adds to the evidence of the SABS being an appropriate evaluation tool with female college students, allowing the rigorous assessment of sexual violence as committed by community women against a reluctant male partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the emotional states preceding and during sexual and violent offenses in a Dutch sample of male forensic inpatients. Moreover, the predictive impact of these emotional states on institutional violence in the first year of mandated care was examined using an incident scheme. Observer-ratings of emotional states by 103 male offenders and 97 sex offenders were examined using Mann-Whitney U tests. Using hierarchical multiple regression analyses, the predictive relationship between crime-related emotional states and incidents was examined. Sexual and violent crimes were equally preceded by painful emotions, primarily feelings of abandonment. During violent crimes, a state of bully and attack was dominant whereas sexual crimes were also characterized by self-aggrandizement and manipulation. These emotional states were not predictive for institutional violence. This study emphasizes the importance of emotional states in offending behavior and usefulness of schema therapy's crime theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence against men in conflict settings is neither a rare nor recent phenomenon, yet its absence in academic scholarship and humanitarian initiatives remains glaring. Despite the advances in our understanding of the determinants of wartime sexual violence against women, surprisingly little empirical research exists on sexual violence against men in conflict. Acts of sexual violence are commonly enacted against men in war, yet because they do not fit more narrow definitions of rape, accounts of these experiences are often misclassified as "torture." Moreover, in many countries experiencing pervasive conflict-related sexual violence, there exist restrictive laws regarding sodomy and homosexuality, reducing the chances that males will report their experiences. Using originally coded data on sexual and gender identity laws and reported incidents of sexual violence in civil conflict, I find that laws that outline the protection of sexual and gender identity expression including the decriminalization of same-sex activity are significantly associated with reports of acts of sexual violence against men. The results speak to the gap in the literature on male sexual violence with tangible consequences for the distribution of humanitarian aid, availability of medical and psychological services for victims, and aims of peacekeeping missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

#MeToo is a digital social movement that has garnered significant attention from feminist scholars since the hashtag obtained viral fame in 2017. Nonetheless, how survivors of sexual violence experience participating in #MeToo remains an understudied question. In this paper we analyze vlogs posted on YouTube under the hashtag to understand how women represent the affordances and drawbacks of participating in the movement, and how they imagine their experiential narratives may affect other survivors. We argue that vloggers represent #MeToo as a forum for breaking the culture of silence that structures sexual violence. As they narrate their experiences, vloggers challenge silencing mechanisms by cultivating voice, resistance strategies, and survivor solidarity, while encouraging viewers to similarly examine their own experiences. Vloggers also identify the emotional burdens associated with disclosure and the damages incurred by confronting rape myths and the entrenched denial of perpetrator guilt as drawbacks of participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the development of the #ArewaMeToo movement in Northern Nigeria. The study is contextualized within the theory of transnational feminism to argue that digital practices among non-Western women are more than merely a technological advancement and are significantly attuned to the socio-political climate of their societies. Therefore, as the #MeToo movement which began in the West goes global, women in Northern Nigerian have found a space to effect social change by resisting socio-cultural practices that challenge their social agency. Using the interview method, we articulate the uniqueness of #ArewaMeToo as a movement that is rooted in specific sociocultural challenges of Nigerian society. We also contend that ethnographic studies produce robust data to understand cultural specificity and enable solutions to address the problems raised by the movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research examining the immigration and crime connection has proliferated, stimulating a vigorous debate among academics and politicians alike. Researchers are examining this relationship at both individual and aggregate levels. However, studies continue to provide often contradictory results. Using Eurostat data over 2017–2020 on crime rates, GDP per capita, income inequality, unemployment rates, and immigration in 38 European countries, this study examines the link between crime and immigration in the context of socioeconomic variables. The main goal is to identify and analyze possible relationships between immigration, unemployment, and crime in Europe. The statistical evidence appears in general to support the hypothesis that the level of crime in Europe during the time period under study can be explained by the level of immigration in the context of country-wide sociodemographic factors. Results show that the homicide rate is significantly associated negatively with immigration (r = − 0.15), GDP per capita (r = − 0.41), and positively associated with both unemployment (r=0.22) and income inequality (r=0.34). Sexual violence rate is significantly and positively associated with immigation (r=0.20) and GDP per capita (r=0.71), and negatively associated with unemployment (r=-0.36) and income inequality (r=-0.41). Finally theft has the same associations and directions as that of sexual violence for all variables, except GDP per capita. The results are discussed in the context of some criminological theories of strain and relative deprivation to suggest policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence against children is a gross violation of children's rights and as well an undeniable global reality across all countries. This social ill occurs in various forms including rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse etc. The objective of the study is to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy of secondary school teachers on child sexual abuse prevention. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used and a Convenience sampling technique was adopted for the study. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used. A sample of 164 teachers was administered questionnaires. The frequency table was used to find the percentages and descriptive statistics of the data, and also Chi-Square cross-tabulation was used to analyse the hypotheses with the aid of Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS) version 21.0 The findings revealed that 159 (97%) of the teachers have a good knowledge of child sexual abuse and 5 (3.0%) have poor knowledge of child sexual abuse prevention, 98 (59.8%) have positive attitude towards preventing child sexual abuse while 66 (40.2%) have negative attitude. 94 (57.3%) of the respondents have a high self-efficacy in child abuse prevention while 70 (42.7%) have low self-efficacy in child sexual abuse prevention. The results of this study showed that teacher's attitudes about child sexual abuse prevention are significantly related to self-efficacy in preventing sexual abuse but knowledge showed an insignificant relation to self-efficacy. It is recommended that teachers with poor knowledge of child sexual abuse should be trained on how to prevent the children from sexual abuse in the society which will enhance their knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This unique qualitative study updates current literature on gangs and sexual violence by incorporating digital practices. This study applies the framework of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) which combines cyberstalking, coerced sexting, online sexual harassment, and sextortion, to the lived experience of young people in and around gangs in London. Findings are generated from a study that took place January–July 2015, which involved 240 young people taking part in 12 focus groups. Data is triangulated with content analysis of social media sites belonging to local gangs. Exploration of patriarchal and gendered practices that normalize sexual violence in gangs on and offline will be discussed. The link between gangs, TFSV, and criminal exploitation will also be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pandemics usually have inequitable effects on the most vulnerable groups of society. Since the start of COVID-19, there has been a horrifying upsurge in cases of sexual and gender-based violence against women, globally. Consequently, frequent breaking news of sexual violence in media aggravated mental distress and worry among women. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the impact of the rise in active circulation of news of sexual violence on the mental health of working women and students using the validated DASS-21 questionnaire. Methods: A total of 303 women with diverse socio-demographic backgrounds participated in the study. We performed a chi-square test to analyze the association of increase in media reporting with DASS-21total and sub-categories scores. Multivariate linear regression was performed on propensity score-matched subjects to identify psychosocial predictors of mental distress. Results: Increased self-reported worries in response to rise in media reports of sexual violence was found to be significant predictor of mental distress (p < 0.002). Moreover, highly significant correlation between the increase in media reports and scores of depression, anxiety, and stress was observed (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The rise in media reporting of sexual violence in the after math of COVID-19 was found to have a significant psychological impact on the mental health of Pakistani women. This is the first study of its kind on the subject and provides fundamental findings for shaping policy change on responsible media reporting of sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the gender-specific impact of recent exposure to different forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence (SHV) on depression and anxiety symptoms three, six, and nine months later. Methods: We recruited 2229 women and 1274 men studying at Swedish universities and followed them with web-surveys every three months over one year. We estimated mean differences (MDs) of depression and anxiety symptoms between exposed and unexposed at each follow-up, adjusting for prior SHV, prior depression and anxiety symptoms and potential confounders. Results: For women, sexual harassment (wide subjective definition) was associated with higher symptom levels of depression (MD 1.0 [95% CI: 0.3; 1.7]) and anxiety (MD 0.8 [95% CI: 0.3; 1.4]) three months later. Unwanted sexual attention was associated with higher symptom levels of anxiety three (MD 0.5 [95% CI: 0.1; 0.8]) and six months later (MD 0.4 [95% CI: 0.0; 0.7]). Exposure to sex against ones will was associated with higher depression symptoms three (MD 1.7 [95% CI: 0.1;3.4]), and six months later (MD 3.1 [95% CI: 1.0; 5.2]). Trends indicated that associations with subsequent mental health differed between forms of SHV among women, and that most associations were more pronounced in temporal proximity to the exposures. For men, we refrain from interpreting the results since they showed high variability and were not robust to sensitivity analyses using multiple imputation to account for missing outcome data. Conclusions: Among women, several forms of SHV were associated with higher subsequent depression and anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence and childhood abuse are two interrelated issues of social and public health concern. Objective: To examine the concurrent mediating roles of childhood abuse (CAS) and neglect (CNS) on the relationship between neighborhood factors (NHS) and adulthood sexual violence (ASV) among university students in Nigeria. Participant and Setting: Data was collected using a cross-sectional survey from 306 university students in a public university in Nigeria. The structural equation model was used to explore the complex relationship between neighborhood characteristics and adulthood sexual violence via childhood abuse and neglect. NHS had a negative direct relationship with childhood abuse (CAS; p < 0.05) and experience of sexual violence in adulthood (ASV; p < 0.05). However, it was positively associated with childhood neglect (p < 0.05). Understanding the socio-environmental context and history of childhood abuse and neglect is critical for effective policy intervention and sexual violence prevention in adulthood. Highlights: Sexual violence and childhood abuse are two interrelated issues of important public health issues. Perceived neighborhood condition was strongly associated with the experience of adulthood sexual violence. Childhood abuse and neglect are critical mediators of the association between neighborhood conditions and adulthood sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence is among the offences on which the public has expressed the greatest alarm and punitiveness and towards which more severe norms and restraining measures have been introduced in several countries in recent years. Outside of Anglo-American countries, few studies have been conducted on the factors that influence public judgments about individuals who commit sexual offences. To address this question, we surveyed a sample of 517 individuals from the general population in Italy. Participants were randomly presented with a vignette describing a case of sexual violence that varied according to the socioeconomic profile of the male offender, his involvement in treatment, and the age of the victim. Participants rated their level of agreement on various issues such as rehabilitation, accountability, and community management. Controlling for pre-existing attitudes, participants reported that when the offender was involved in treatment, the risk of re-offending was low, that his release into society could be considered, and that it would not be a problem to have a treated offender as a neighbor (especially if of high socio-economic status). Attribution of responsibility varied depending on the victim. When the victim was a young girl, rather than a woman, the responsibility for the violence was attributed exclusively to the offender. In the case of a young victim, participants overestimated how the rate of sex offending affected the country. Attention is also given to the role of comfort with sexuality in influencing these perceptions. Implications for public policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, women 15–24 years are at heightened risk of sexual violence victimization, a risk factor for adverse mental, physical, and behavioral health outcomes. Sexual violence is common at universities and most often perpetrated by men, yet few evidence-based prevention strategies targeting men have been tested in low- and middle-income countries. GlobalConsent is a six-module, web-based educational program adapted from an efficacious U.S.-based program. Nine months post-treatment in a randomized trial in Vietnam, GlobalConsent reduced men's sexually violent behavior (odds ratio [OR] = 0.71, 95%CI 0.50–1.00) and increased prosocial intervening behavior (OR = 1.51, 1.00–2.28) relative to an attention-control. Evidence regarding optimal implementation strategies for scale up is needed. Methods: We will randomize six medical universities in North, Central, and South Vietnam to deliver GlobalConsent using two different packages of implementation strategies that vary in intensity. Higher-intensity strategies will include greater (1) pre- and post-implementation engagement with university leaders and faculty and (2) greater pre-implementation outreach, follow-up, and incentives for students to promote engagement and completion of GlobalConsent. Higher intensity universities will receive additional training and support for their added activities. We will compare implementation drivers and outcomes, intervention effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness across the two implementation bundles. Our mixed-methods comparative interrupted time series design includes (1) qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys with university leaders and implementation teams to assess implementation barriers and facilitators; (2) repeated surveys with leaders and faculty, implementation teams, and male students to assess multilevel implementation drivers and outcomes; (3) repeated surveys with male students to assess behavioral outcomes (sexual violence and intervening behavior) and mediating variables (knowledge, attitudes, affect, and capacities); and (4) time diaries and cost tracking to assess cost-effectiveness of the two implementation-strategies bundles. Discussion: This project is the first to assess packages of implementation strategies to deliver an efficacious web-based sexual violence prevention program for undergraduate men across all regions of Vietnam and synergizes with a violence-prevention training initiative (D43TW012188). This approach will produce rigorous evidence about how to disseminate GlobalConsent nationally, which holds promise to reduce gender-based health inequities linked to sexual violence as GlobalConsent is brought to scale. Trial registration: NCT06443541. Retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov. Registered on June 05, 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, the global community witnessed the rise of the #MeToo movement followed by its later backlash. Aiming to get a better understanding of the movement, this study explored how rape myths might be associated with the acceptance of the #metoo movement. Through an online survey, 76 participants from the UK, aged between 18 and 60, responded to the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (IRMAS)–Revised and a short questionnaire on the #MeToo movement. Results showed there was a significant relationship between rape myth acceptance and negative perceptions of the #MeToo movement. Moreover, the subcategories of the IRMAS, ‘it wasn’t really rape’ and ‘she lied’, had the biggest relationship and effect on opinions about the #MeToo movement. This might suggest that dismissal and disregard of abusive acts, linked to gender stereotypes, is associated with the resistance towards the #metoo movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a decade of deliberation, the draft sexual violence eradication bill was finally passed by the Indonesian parliament on 12 April 2022, enacted as the Sexual Violence Crime Law (Undang-Undang Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Seksual). The draft, which was first initiated by the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and later adopted as a parliamentary initiative, sparked controversy both inside and outside parliament. This article aims to describe the law-making process and identify the critical actors and acts as well as institutional responses that led to the passing of the law. It considers whether the experience can be interpreted as a reflection of a gender-sensitive parliament. Using a qualitative research approach, we identified critical actors and various responses from the parliament as an institution in responding to the dynamics of resistance and encouragement for the draft law to be passed. Our research material consists of interviews, news articles, and official document data. We found that critical actors and actions are key in the law-making process along with strong political will and collaboration between lawmakers, government representatives, civil society organizations, and the media, but the passage of this legislation alone does not fulfill the full requirement of a gender-sensitive parliament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Judgment of sexual violences against Mayan women during the Armed Conflict in Guatemala remains neglected. Justice processes have yearned harassment of victims and judges, sentences overruled, and epistemological barriers distancing the Western judiciary system from Mayan women’s experiences of sexual violence. Judiciary expert reports suppose a dialogue opportunity between epistemic margins and Western hegemony, as they play the role of objectifying the experiences of victims via scientific research methods. Here, I show how using decolonial and communitarian feminism theoretical-methodological approaches builds epistemic bridges. I discuss that sexual offences targeted a subject whose existence supposes a threat to the State’s patriarch-colonialist, and misogynist-racist interests: Mayan women or Ixoq. I argue that sexual violence targeted against Mayan women must be understood as genocide, for it aims at Ixoq’s annihilation in the context of the Ladino Nation Project in 1980s Guatemala. This novel cartographic approach helps building epistemic bridges to ensure hermeneutic justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS Schools are important contexts for preventing sexual violence (SV) among adolescents. Evaluating whether programming is effective requires surveying youth about SV experiences. However, school communities often have concerns about asking students, particularly those in middle school, about these experiences. This study sought to understand the types of concerns that school district leaders have related to surveying middle school students about SV and to identify ways to mitigate these concerns.We conducted semi‐structured interviews with superintendents and school board members (n = 19) across Washington State and used inductive thematic analysis.Concerns regarding surveying students about SV centered around 3 main themes: community norms and misconceptions, parental/caregiver discomfort, and survey language and administration. Concerns were particularly salient for sixth‐grade students. Suggestions for mitigating concerns included: providing clear motivation and reframing messaging to community members, involving parents and students in the survey process, and modifying survey language and administration.Researchers administering surveys to middle school students on sensitive topics including SV may face pushback and must consider flexible approaches to allow research and evaluation to be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While existing scholarship on R. Kelly primarily focuses on hashtag activism via #MuteRKelly, #FastTailedGirls, and #SurvivingRKelly, this essay considers the role of investigative journalism in documenting decades of R. Kelly's sexual violence against Black women and girls. Using Gwendolyn Pough's concept "bringing wreck" and Regina Duthely's expanded version of "digital wreck," this study analyzes nine articles published from 2013 to 2015 on ebony.com, the digital version of the Black-oriented magazine Ebony. In response to R. Kelly's reentry into hip-hop, I argue that Black feminist bloggers as journalists aimed to digitally wreck patriarchy and capitalism through their rhetorical strategies on ebony.com. This project performs an interface analysis of ebony.com in conjunction with a rhetorical critique of these editorial attacks against the artist. It demonstrates how Black feminists engage in radical acts of blame to digitally wreck public sentiments towards abusive celebrities within the space of commodified news organizations. There are three types of digital wrecking practiced by Black feminists on ebony.com: expressing marginality, blaming misogynoir agents and practices, and reimagining Black culture by challenging sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]