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Japanese and Canadian laws regarding sexual assault vary in the degree to which they incorporate the concept of sexual consent, with Japanese law being less consent-oriented than Canadian law. Although the Japanese law has incorporated the concept of sexual consent in the 2023 amendment, the public understanding of the concept is still limited. Reflecting such difference, it could be expected that the general public in both countries also differ in their perceptions and attitudes regarding punishment of sexual crime and sexual consent. The present study aimed to test these expectations and further examine the mediational mechanism that explains the national difference between Japan and Canada. The data from 1125 Japanese and 1125 Canadian respondents showed that Japanese respondents were less likely to perceive the imposition of punishment on an alleged perpetrator described in scenarios as appropriate. In contrast, the difference in the perceived victim's consent was significant only in three out of seven scenarios. The relation between nations (Japan vs. Canada) and perceived appropriateness of punishment was mediated by the perceived victim's consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarship on corporate crime focuses, quite naturally, on profit-motivated crime. But there are crimes with an institutional dimension that are not recognized in this framework of corporate crime. In this article, I present a case study of a police organization where multiple employees committed sexual assaults to show that these crimes can have an organizational dimension. This analysis shows two things: first, that the corporate-culture model of attributing mens rea is more effective at identifying corporate crime than the one currently in force in Canada and, second, that organization-facilitated sexual assault is a corporate-entity crime, broadening the conception of corporate crime generally. The corporate-culture model explains why corporations should be liable for crimes they encourage employees to commit even when these are not in line with the organization's objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a highly prevalent issue, both in North America and globally, with well-recognized adverse impact on survivors' physical, emotional, and economic well-being. The objective of this systematic review is to collect and synthesize empirical work on the effects of SGBV victimization on educational trajectories, goals, attainment, and outcomes. The review summarizes what is known about factors associated with victimization that affect survivors' educational trajectories and highlights gaps in the literature pertaining to the effects of victimization on education. Five databases were searched for this review: Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, PubMed, APA PsycInfo, and ERIC. For inclusion, the articles must present research on the academic impact of any form of SGBV experienced in higher education and must have been conducted in the United States or Canada. The 68 studies that met these criteria presented research on six key areas of educational outcomes: impacts on academic performance and motivation; attendance, dropout, and avoidance; changes in major/field of study; academic disengagement; educational attitudes and satisfaction; and academic climate and institutional relationships. Research also revealed factors mediating the relationship between SGBV exposure and educational outcomes such as mental health, physical health, social support, socioeconomic status, and resiliency, which we summarize in a pathway model. The research reviewed had significant limitations, including weak study designs, limited generalizability, and diversity concerns. We offer recommendations for future research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:There is substantial unmet need for child and youth mental health problems in Canada. Charitable organizations, such as Kids Help Phone (KHP), are critical to filling system gaps, offering 24/7 e-mental health services outside the formal health care system. Methods:For the 5-year period from January 2018 to December 2022, we describe issues discussed by young people accessing KHP's services, and examine variations across different service platforms and age groups. Results:The most discussed issues across all service platforms and age groups were anxiety/stress, depression/sadness, and relationships. Suicide was most frequently discussed over text and Live Chat compared with other services, and was proportionally most discussed by young people 10–13 years of age on the phone and text services compared with other age ranges. Sexual abuse and violence were most frequently discussed by children 0–5 and 6–9 years of age across services. Discussion:Our analysis provides a unique snapshot into the concerns faced by children and youth across Canada, as well as the issues for which KHP is seen as an accessible place to seek support. Our findings can guide the future development of health promotion activities, and assist in new service development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Universities’ responses to sexual violence have faced scrutiny for their lack of proactiveness and their failure to address campus socio-cultural norms that contribute to rape myth acceptance. The labels victim and survivor play a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward sexual violence, but there is limited research on how university students perceive these labels. Objective: This paper explores sexual violence labels and their role in perpetuating rape culture. Undergraduate university students’ beliefs on using the label survivor instead of victim to describe someone who has experienced sexual violence were examined to consider how these labels create societal discourse on sexual violence. Method: The study draws on qualitative data collected from undergraduate students in Canada and the United States through open-response questions in an interactive textbook. Data were analysed and interpreted using a multi-method approach that combined principles of Critical Discourse Analysis and Feminist Poststructuralism. Direct quotes and word clouds from participants’ responses are used as evidence and to visually display discourse. Results: Findings revealed that participants recognised the negative societal discourses associated with the label victim and supported using survivor to challenge perceptions of sexual violence. Despite this, participants expressed hesitancy to adopt the label survivor because of the potential negative implications, such as the label promoting the allocation of individual blame, increasing barriers to justice, and reducing the perceived severity of sexual violence. Conclusions: This study underscores the complexities of sexual violence labels, the influence of language in shaping societal perceptions, and the need for a more comprehensive and equitable approach to responding to sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 50% and 70% of campus sexual assaults (SA) involve alcohol and campuses frequently promote bystander intervention strategies to prevent SA in student party contexts. This systematic review evaluates the measurement and outcomes of quantitative studies on how alcohol affects campus SA bystander outcomes. Using four search strategies and rigorous systematic review methods, we conducted a review of 36 studies. We included studies published after 2,000 conducted with college students in the United States, its territories, and Canada which contained information on alcohol use and SA bystander outcomes (behaviors and upstream proxies). Only a third of included studies measured bystander behavior directly, the majority measured upstream proxies (e.g., intentions, self-efficacy). Most studies considered the influence of victim intoxication on bystander outcomes. No studies assessed the pharmacological or physiological effects of alcohol on bystander outcomes. A single study examined hypothetical bystander responses when intoxicated, one-third examined bystander's typical alcohol use in relation to bystander outcomes. Many findings are contradictory, including fundamental details such as how often students encounter SA involving alcohol or whether bystanders' alcohol use predicts outcomes. Findings suggest that students are less likely help intoxicated victims compared to sober victims, but there are clear moderating factors. Perpetrator intoxication was not studied in relation to bystander behavior and did not influence any upstream proxies. Evaluations of interventions on alcohol and bystander topics are promising yet more research is required. This review illuminates key gaps in the literature, including the need for validated measures and scenarios, event-level studies, and alcohol administration trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT), the EAAA programme designed for first year university women (17–24 years old) was shown to reduce the likelihood of any (attempted and completed) rape in the next year by 50% (Senn, C. Y., Eliasziw, M., Barata, P. C., Thurston, W. E., Newby-Clark, I. R., Radtke, H. L., & Hobden, K. L. (2015). Efficacy of a sexual assault resistance program for university women. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(24), 2326–2335). Through a non-profit organization, EAAA has been available to universities globally since 2016 using a Train-the-Trainer model. Observations of the 'real world' implementation suggested that universities often altered eligibility criteria (especially year of study and age) in their recruitment. Objective: The current study (2017–2021) evaluated whether EAAA was effective when implemented by universities in Canada outside of the constraints of an RCT. Method: Five universities participated. Women students who signed up to take the EAAA programme on their campuses were recruited for the research. Participants completed surveys at 1-week pre-program and 1-week and 6-months post-programme. Compared to the RCT, participant eligibility was broader, the sample was more diverse in terms of race and sexual identity and had a higher proportion of survivors. Programme fidelity was adequate. Results: Comparisons in this quasi-experimental design, between students who took the programme and students in the control group (i.e. those who signed up but did not attend the programme), confirmed the effectiveness of the EAAA programme. Reduction of any rape exceeded the a priori benchmark of 37.5%. Completed rape was significantly reduced by 57.3% at 6-months. Reduction in attempted rape of 32.9% was lower than in the RCT likely due to the somewhat older (average age 22 vs 18) sample. Positive changes to previously established mediators of the programme effects were all replicated. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the EAAA is highly effective when implemented by universities even when eligibility for students in terms of year of study and age is broadened. This study evaluates whether the EAAA programme is effective when implemented by university staff at five Canadian universities outside of the constraints of an RCT. Women-identified students who attended the EAAA programme experienced a 57.3% reduction in completed rape and other benefits including increased confidence and reductions in rape myth beliefs when compared to a comparable group of students who signed up but didn't attend the programme. These reductions in sexual victimization in the 'real-world' implementation of the EAAA programme in a sample of diverse undergraduate and graduate students enhances our confidence in its ability to reduce the pervasive public health issue of sexual violence experienced by women in university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There appear to be widespread misunderstandings and disagreement regarding the definition and execution of sexual consent among postsecondary students. Without a clear understanding of what constitutes sexual consent, navigating consent-related situations can be challenging for individuals. Sexual script theory may explain gaps in consent knowledge by highlighting the social normative references, or sexual scripts, individuals may rely on when knowledge of consent is insufficient or challenging to apply. The goal of the current study was to qualitatively explore Canadian undergraduate students' perceptions and experiences of sexual consent within the framework of sexual script theory. Using focus groups, N = 56 undergraduates discussed perceptions of sexual consent, under what circumstances they perceive it to be required, potential "grey areas" of sexual consent and how they are navigated, and how gender may intersect with sexual consent. Transcripts were analyzed within a framework of sexual script theory using inductive coding and thematic analysis. Although participants understood Canadian legally codified scripts well, they seemed to rely on socio-cultural and gendered sexual consent scripts when legal scripts were insufficient or challenging to apply, particularly in ambiguous consent scenarios. The findings suggest that beyond providing educational opportunities and interventions within formal school settings that encompass a wider range of sexual consent scenarios, there is a need to address socio-cultural norms/sexual scripts regarding consent within the broader population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research focusing on the role of adverse childhood experience (ACE) of individuals involved in sexual homicide (SH) is scarce. Theoretical models of SH have postulated a connection between these adverse experiences and the development of internal risk factors. However, such assumptions have never been empirically tested. Therefore, the current research aims to identify how ACEs affect the development of personality disorders and problematic behaviors during adolescence, which constitute internal risk factors for the commission of SH. The sample comes from a database including 613 individuals involved in sexual crimes in Canada among which 60 committed a SH. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify personality disorders and problematic behaviors during adolescence associated with the presence of ACEs. Next, path analysis was used to identify the direct and indirect relationships between ACEs, internal risk factors, and the commission of SH. Results showed that individuals who experienced ACEs were more likely to develop internal risk factors involved in the commission of SH. Moreover, findings suggest that the impact of these adverse experiences will differ, depending on whether the child has been victim of violence or if he/she has witnessed it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses Sarah Polley's memoir, "Run Towards the Danger," which explores her experiences as a child actor and her journey towards self-discovery. Polley reflects on her traumatic childhood and the exploitation she faced in the film industry. She also delves into the intersection of memory, the body, and power, highlighting the physical and emotional tolls of her career. Additionally, Polley shares her decision to stay silent during the Jian Ghomeshi trial, shedding light on the challenges faced by women seeking justice for sexual assault. Overall, Polley's memoir offers a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of her life and the complexities of trauma. [Extracted from the article]

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This paper examines the role of social media evidence in sexual assault trials in Canada, focusing on cases with underage female victims. Teenage girls are among the heaviest social media users and face unique expectations regarding the performance of heteronormative gender norms. Society simultaneously encourages girls to enact gender roles that emphasize their femininity and sexuality and punishes them for acting according to these standards. When girls engage in performativity online, they leave behind a digital footprint that can be used against them at trial. Through a detailed case study of 14 publicly available judgments, we analyze how judges evaluate girls' social media content in sexual assault trials that feature a mistake of age defense. Drawing on social media research, legal studies, and the concept of performativity, we show that judges vary greatly in their understandings of gender norms and that this translates to divergent case outcomes. In the 'guilty' cases, the judges contextualize social media content as insufficient and unreliable, noting that it is common for youth to lie or embellish facts online. In the 'not guilty' cases however, the judges appear to take such evidence at face value and hold girls accountable for having provocative pictures or misrepresenting themselves online. Such practices are problematic because they perpetuate rape myths and misconceptions about victim behavior. We call for greater consideration of the socio-cultural norms that govern girls' social media use to avoid biased interpretations that adversely shape the outcome of sexual assault trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been described as a highly stigmatizing experience. Despite the recognition of shame as a significant contributor to psychological distress following CSA, an inhibitor of CSA disclosure, and a challenging emotion to overcome in therapy, limited research has explored the experience of shame with young people who have been sexually abused. This study is unique in examining the transcripts of 47 young people aged 15–25 years from a large-scale study conducted in Ireland and Canada and exploring manifestations of shame in CSA disclosure narratives. Using a thematic analysis of both inductive and deductive coding, the data were examined for implicit, as distinct from explicit, manifestations of shame. Three key themes were identified in this study: languaging shame, avoiding shame, and reducing shame. The study supports previous authors in highlighting the need for nuanced measures of shame in research that takes account of the complexity of this emotion. Conceptualizations in the literature of the distinction between shame and guilt are challenged when these emotions are explored in the context of CSA. Finally, recommendations for working therapeutically with young people who have experienced CSA are offered with a view to addressing shame in therapeutic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence against women (VaW) is a widespread crime and violation of the rights of women. It is present in every country without exception and crosses boundaries of culture, class, education, income, and race. Despite the magnitude of the literature and the abundance of publications on this problem, the field lacks a comprehensive and homogeneous way to measure and compare the extent of VaW across countries. Proper quantification of this problem is needed to develop preventive policies and strategies to reduce it. This article develops an index of VaW (VAWI) with global scope and multidimensional approach for 102 countries. It is an original index that calculates the total level of VaW by capturing information from the main VaW types (physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence) in a single value between 0 and 1, where 0 denotes complete absence of violence and 1 the highest level of violence in a country. The proposed index is easy to compute and is comparable across countries. Our main results show that the nations with the highest levels of global VaW are Yemen, Senegal, Oman, Cameroon, and Uganda. The countries with the lowest levels are the Northern European Countries, Canada, and Malta. This VAWI makes a novel and important contribution to the study of gender issues. It can be used not only to monitor the statistics on VaW data within countries over time but also to make comparisons among countries. Further, it could be useful in designing new policy initiatives to reduce VaW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stranger-perpetrated harassment was identified decades ago to describe the pervasive, unwanted sexual attention women experience in public spaces. This form of harassment, which has evolved in the modern era, targets women as they navigate online spaces, social media, texting, and online gaming. The present research explored university-aged women's experiences (n = 381) with online male-perpetrated sexual harassment, including the nature and frequency of the harassment, how women responded to the harassment, and how men reportedly reacted to women's strategies. Trends in harassment experiences are explored descriptively and with thematic analysis. Most women reported receiving sexually inappropriate messages (84%, n = 318), sexist remarks or comments (74%, n = 281), seductive behavior or come-ons (70%, n = 265), or unwanted sexual attention (64%, n = 245) in an online platform, social media account, email, or text message. This sexual attention from unknown males often began at a very young age (12-14 years). The harassment took many forms, including inappropriate sexual comments on social media posts, explicit photos of male genitalia, and solicitations for sex. Although most women reported strong negative emotional reactions to the harassment (disgust, fear, anger), they generally adopted non-confrontational strategies to deal with the harassment, electing to ignore/delete the content or blocking the offender. Women reported that some men nevertheless persisted with the harassment, following them across multiple sites online, escalating in intensity and severity, and leading some women to delete their own social media accounts. These results suggest the need for early intervention and education programs and industry response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence, particularly against women, is alarmingly common. Many survivors experience post-traumatic stress (Cortina & Kubiak, 2006); thus, reminders of the trauma could cause flashbacks, dissociative symptoms, and intense fear (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Given that women consume media that regularly depicts sexual violence, which could cause distress, the current study examined women's perceptions of, and emotional responses to, scenes of sexual violence. It was predicted that women would perceive scenes of sexual violence negatively and that would be particularly true for women with a sexual violence history, those who reported post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms related to sexual violence history, and those who use negative coping strategies in response to stressors. Participants were women (n = 229) who completed an online survey. More than half (52%) of participants reported that they had experienced sexual violence. Participants generally reported negative perceptions of scenes of sexual violence, with a majority viewing them as too graphic, used for shock value/titillation, and unnecessary to the plot. Women with a history of sexual violence reported greater avoidance of media that might contain sexual violence and greater negative affect in response to scenes of sexual violence; however, women who exceeded the post-traumatic stress disorder screen cut-off did not report greater avoidance and negative affect than those who did not exceed the cut-off. Finally, those who reported a greater tendency to cope with stressors using problem avoidance reported more avoidance of, and negative affect in response to, scenes of sexual violence. Exploratory analyses, limitations, and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University-based sexual violence prevalence is worryingly high and leads to many serious consequences for health and academic achievement. Although previous work has documented greater risk for sexual violence among Indigenous Peoples, little is known about university-based sexual violence experienced by Indigenous students. Using a large-scale study of universitybased sexual violence in Canada, the current study aims to (1) examine the risk of sexual violence against Indigenous students compared to non-Indigenous students, and (2) to document sexual violence experiences of Indigenous students. Undergraduate students from six universities (N = 5,627) completed online questionnaires regarding their experience and consequences of university-based sexual violence (e.g., forms of sexual violence experiences, gender, and status of the perpetrator, context of the violence, PTSD, disclosure). Findings indicated that compared with their non-Indigenous peers, Indigenous students experienced significantly higher levels of sexual harassment. However, no difference was found for unwanted sexual behaviors, nor for sexual violence contexts. Among Indigenous students, those having experienced sexual violence after age 18 (outside university) were more likely to report university-based sexual violence. Overall, findings highlight that Indigenous students, as well as non-Indigenous students, experience university-based sexual violence. Given their history, Indigenous students may have different needs, so sustainable policies that foster cultural safety on all campuses are clearly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being fearful of crime is, unfortunately, a common experience. Research shows that many factors influence a person's fear of crime, demonstrating that certain groups are generally more fearful than others. Even though they are typically young, college students express being fearful of crime on and off campus. What has yet to be investigated is whether college students who attend school in the United States are fearful at similar levels to their Canadian counterparts. Further, the correlates of fear of crime may also be different. To explore these issues, data from the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment II survey of U.S. and Canadian college students are used. Results show that Canadian college students generally perceive their safety as being higher than U.S. college students, even though they face elevated victimization risks. Further, some correlates of fear of crime differ for U.S. and Canadian college students. These findings suggest the need for additional cross-national comparative work to see if patterns generalize across contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Comparative & International Education is the property of Canadian & International Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to assess the cues college students use to determine a sexual partner is refusing vaginal-penile sex (i.e., refusal interpretations). As a secondary aim, we explored the influence of item wording (not willing/non-consent vs refusal) on college students' self-reported refusal interpretations. A sample of 175 college students from Canada and the United States completed an open-ended online survey where they were randomly assigned to one of two wording conditions (not willing/non-consent vs refusal); students were then prompted to write about the cues they used to interpret their partner was refusing. An inductive coding procedure was used to analyze open-ended data. Themes included explicit and implicit verbal and nonverbal cues. The refusal condition elicited more explicit and implicit nonverbal cues than the not willing/non-consent condition. Frequency results suggested men reported interpreting more explicit and implicit verbal cues. Women reported interpreting more implicit nonverbal cues from their partner. Our findings reflect prior research and appear in line with traditional gender and sexual scripts. We recommend researchers consider using the word refusal when assessing the cues students interpret from their sexual partners as this wording choice may reflect college students' sexual experiences more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The #MeToo movement has given voice to victims of sexual harassment and assault. In many of these cases, there have been long delays in reporting of the sexual offence (e.g., the Harvey Weinstein case). The purpose of this study was to examine how the type of sexual offence (harassment vs. assault) and the length of delayed reporting (15, 25, 35 years) influenced mock-juror decision-making. Mock-jurors (N = 319) read a mock trial transcript depicting an alleged sexual offence and were asked to render a dichotomous verdict, continuous guilt rating, and defendant and victim perception ratings. The data indicated an effect of sexual offence type such that mock-jurors held more favorable perceptions of the defendant when the alleged offence was harassment compared with assault. There also was an effect of delayed reporting such that mock-jurors rendered more guilty verdicts when there was a 25-year delay compared with a 15-year delay. Intriguingly, these results suggest that jurors in sexual offence cases may perceive longer delays in reporting as more believable than shorter delays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the frequency of sexual assault experiences in a sample of university women to understand the conditions under which sexual assault occurs, and compare alcohol and drug consumption patterns on the likelihood of experiencing sexual victimization. While patterns of victimization have been examined in American contexts, research on contemporary Canadian contexts is scant at present. We found that roughly 58% of the 377 university women in our sample attending one of three large Western Canadian universities in British Columbia reported having been sexually assaulted. These women reported a total of 528 incidents of sexual assault, with 56% of these involving substance-related nonpenetrative sex acts; 312 incidents were substance-related and 216 involved forcible sexual assault. The likelihood of sexual assault victimization was the highest among participants who identified as a sexual minority, consumed marijuana, and reported greater severity of recent alcohol consumption. The present research aims to inform sexual assault prevention and education efforts to reduce occurrences of victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign object insertion (FOI) is considered as an unusual behavior and has been defined as the involuntary insertion of any object, by another individual, into any orifice of the victim. Although there is some research on the prevalence and nature of FOI in sexual homicides, there is very little on the characteristics of cases where FOI occurs, and no previous research has compared cases with and without FOI. Given the lack of research on FOI in general and the dissemination of untested ideas regarding the correlates of this behavior specifically, the current study aims to shine new light on sexual homicide cases involving FOI by examining the offender, victim, and crime characteristics associated with FOI. Using a sample of 662 cases of sexual homicide, chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used to compare cases with and without FOI. Results showed that offenders who experienced sexual dysfunction and victims who used alcohol/drugs prior to the crime were more likely to be involved in cases with FOI. Cases where victims were beaten, vaginal/anal fisting acts were perpetrated, and mutilation of genitals were observed, were more likely to show evidence of FOI. Finally, postmortem sexual activities and the use of strategies by offenders to avoid police detection were also more likely to occur in sexual homicide cases characterized by FOI. These findings are discussed in light of the literature on sexual homicide, the vulnerability of victims, and the manifestation of sadism. Practical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Counselling & Psychotherapy / Revue Canadienne de Counseling et de Psychothérapie is the property of Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Studies of intimate partner sexual assault (IPSA) and its effects on mental health are limited. This secondary data analysis examines IPSA, a history of child sexual abuse, depression, trauma, mental distress and quality of life in 665 Canadian women, 41% of whom had been sexually assaulted by intimate partners; 53% were sexually abused as children. Women who had experienced any IPSA had significantly higher scores on all Composite Abuse subscales (IPV), mental distress (SCL-10), and depression (CES-D-10). PTSD (PCL) was higher for women with both IPSA and CSA histories. Implications for advocates, clinicians, and researchers are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ecological framework is useful for understanding how individual, relationship, community, and societal level factors can affect women's vulnerability to sexual assault. However, most studies have focused on examining individual and relationship factors only, due to measurement challenges and a lack of data at the societal level. The purpose of this study was to use data from a nationally representative victimization survey to identify salient predictors of sexual assaults not committed by common-law or marital partners among women across all levels of the ecological framework. Out of 16,738 female respondents, 1.9% (n = 319) experienced one or more incidents of non-spousal sexual assault in the 12 months preceding the survey. Logistic regression modeling indicated that at the individual level, statistically significant factors associated with non-spousal sexual assault included age, Indigenous status, marital status, mental disability, education, main activity, and homelessness or precarious housing. Relationship level predictors of non-spousal sexual assault were a history of child sexual abuse and witnessing violence between parents. Community level predictors were a weak sense of belonging in the local community, low likelihood that neighbors would contact police if they witnessed family violence in the respondents' home, and high likelihood that neighbors would contact police if they witnessed other criminal behavior. Societal level factors were perceptions that local police do a poor job promptly responding to calls, perceptions that local police do a poor job treating people fairly, and having experienced discrimination in the previous 5 years. The results demonstrated that community and societal level factors are critical components of an ecological framework and are important to understanding and addressing the many factors which are independently associated with vulnerability to sexual assault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culturally sensitive approaches in sexual violence prevention (SVP) refer to the proactive measures and strategies designed to address unique cultural circumstances impacting SVP. It focuses on fostering a culture of consent, respect, and equity and creating a safe and supportive environment for all individuals regardless of your identity. Increasing cultural diversity on university campuses poses unique challenges in preventing sexual violence (SV). Cultural diversity brings different perspectives, norms, and values regarding sex, sexuality, and gender roles. It can contribute to varying understandings of consent, differing attitudes toward SV, and diverse victimization experiences. These differences can create barriers to effectively addressing and preventing SV. The multiphase Culture and Perspectives on Sexual Assault Policy study, conducted at four universities in Eastern Canada, employed a qualitative research design involving focus groups with culturally diverse student participants. The findings revealed a strong desire for more education on sex, sexuality, SVP, and the intersections of culture. Additionally, the findings emphasize the importance of education and comprehensive prevention efforts that consider cultural differences, challenge gender normativity, debunk rape myths, and address the shame and secrecy associated with experiencing SV. These insights have significant implications for promoting a sense of community ownership, increasing the effectiveness and sustainability of prevention efforts, and helping to create a campus environment where all students feel safe, supported, and valued., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interests with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The process of disclosing childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is very difficult for young people. Researchers have consistently found that young people disclose CSA to other youth at much higher rates than to familiar adults or authorities and indicate that CSA remains largely unknown to adults. However, no study to date has focused exclusively on understanding the process of youth-directed disclosures from young people's perspectives. Using grounded theory methodology, this qualitative study aimed to understand the process of CSA disclosures to peers based on interviews with 30 young people from Canada and Ireland who have experienced CSA. The findings reflect the iterative and dialogical nature of the peer disclosure process and provide a framework for youth-directed disclosures that is centered on the theme of uncertainty. An underlying sense of uncertainty permeated the entire disclosure experience as participants' narratives reflected six stages that were interrelated in a cyclical process: experiencing internal conflict, needing to tell and choosing to confide in peers, expecting emotional support from peers, gradual telling and making sense of the abuse, burden on peers, and assessing peer responses and further disclosures. In addition, this model was not static, as with time, participants reinterpreted their peers' responses. The presented framework is consistent with previous conceptualizations of CSA disclosures, but the focus on youth-directed disclosures from the perspective of young people also allowed for a model that explains processes that are unique to peer disclosures. Practice and policy implications as well as limitations and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the extent to which evaluative attitudes toward sexual aggression (i.e., positive or negative evaluative judgments about sexually aggressive behavior) mediate the association between injunctive norms (i.e., extent to which peers approve or disapprove of sexually aggressive behavior) and self-reported sexual aggression against women. Participants were 200 male undergraduate students. Approximately one in four males reported engaging in at least one sexually aggressive act since the age of 16. Participants with a history of sexual aggression also reported the highest likelihood of engaging in sexually aggressive behavior in the future. We tested two separate mediation models to examine the extent to which evaluative attitudes account for the link between injunctive norms and sexual aggression: one model with self-reported history of sexual aggression as the outcome and the other with likelihood of engaging in sexually aggressive behavior as the outcome. Results showed that more positive evaluative attitudes toward sexual aggression accounted for the association between injunctive norms and self-reported history of sexual aggression. Similarly, evaluative attitudes accounted for the link between injunctive norms and self-reported likelihood of engaging in sexually aggressive behavior in the future. Overall, these findings are consistent with theoretical and empirical explanations of sexual offending and general criminal behavior; however, this is the first study to explore the relationship between injunctive norms and evaluative attitudes in the context of explaining sexually aggressive behavior. If more rigorous research establishes a causal relationship between injunctive norms, evaluative attitudes, and sexually aggressive behavior, this would suggest that targeting these factors in prevention programs may reduce sexual aggression by male undergraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the severity of intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by men in their ongoing relationships and their help-seeking behavior with the criminal justice system and other professional agencies. This study also examined the extent to which socio-demographic variables predicted formal help seeking among male victims of IPV. Data were drawn from 2009 and 2014 cycles of the Canadian General Social Survey on Victimization with a nationally representative sample of 52,400 respondents. It is estimated that about 655,400 men in Canada reported having experienced physical and/or sexual victimization due to IPV in married/common-law relationships at the time of the surveys between 2004 and 2014. The latent class analysis generated four types of IPV victimization among men. Among male victims of physical and/or sexual IPV, about 64,000 men experienced the most severe type of IPV characterized by chronic and severe physical and psychological violence with a high probability of injuries and negative emotional effects of IPV. Although most of the male victims of IPV did not seek formal help (e.g., did not contact the police and IPV services), the severity of experienced violence was associated with the increased use of formal services. Some structural factors, such as being unemployed and residing with young children, were found to be substantial barriers to contacting formal agencies for help. Our findings highlight the need for the development of gender-inclusive and gender-sensitive public policy and intervention programs that help all victims of IPV regardless of victim gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically compares the work of two contemporary Canadian artists Leanne Simpson and Kent Monkman. Simpson's innovative collection of poems titled Islands of Decolonial Love (2013) and Monkman's provocative exhibition Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience (2014) emerge from their personal and historical experiences of settler colonialism in Canada, which continues to impact the lives of the First Nations People adversely. The paper reveals how Simpson and Monkman challenge the government's tokenistic efforts at reparation and rehabilitation. To represent the specific horrors of urban poverty, sexual violence, and daily microaggressions that the First Nations People face without falling into the trap of appropriation or sentimentalism, Simpson and Monkman combine visual and aesthetic traditions from their Cree and Anishinaabe roots. This paper highlights the significance of these hybrid genres of First Nations storytelling in the project of decolonization and resilience. It demonstrates how the Native Canadian subaltern 'speaks' in these narratives without relinquishing the position of subalternity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a recent increase in the number of studies published on sexual homicide (SH), several of these studies have been based on small and nonrepresentative samples. This study aims to describe and compare two samples of SH from France (n = 412) and Canada (n = 350) where data have been collected and coded with the same tool. The data include variables related to the crime, the offender, and the victim characteristics. The overarching goal is to further the knowledge about French SH and to assess the possibility of merging French and Canadian cases to create a cross-national database of 772 cases of SH. Among the 126 variables included in the comparative analysis, 31 (24.60%) presented significant differences between the two samples. Overall, findings suggest that SH cases between the two countries are more similar than they are different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dearth of information about the association of victim-related and assailant-related characteristics and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among sexually assaulted women. Recently, Statistics Canada included items measuring the possible presence of PTSD symptoms in their 2014 nationally representative General Social Survey on Victimization (GSS-V), for the purpose of improving the understanding of mental health impacts associated with sexual victimization. The present study used the GSS-V to examine the association of sociodemographic, health, and assailant characteristics and prior traumatic experiences in the form of physical or sexual dating violence, physical assault, stalking, childhood abuse, and witnessing of violence between parents with PTSD symptomology among sexually assaulted women. Among 319 women who reported experiencing at least one incident of sexual assault in the 12 months prior to the survey, 68.6% had experienced at least one negative emotional impact as a result, among whom, 43.6% reported past-month PTSD symptoms. Logistic regression modeling revealed that prior traumatic events in the form of physical or sexual dating violence, stalking, and having witnessed violence between parents were associated with higher odds of experiencing PTSD symptoms, as was having been sexually assaulted by a known assailant. In contrast, the odds of experiencing PTSD symptoms was lower for Aboriginal or visible minority women. The results suggest that PTSD symptoms in the near aftermath of sexual victimization are common, and there are a range of factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing these symptoms. Implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2011, in Australia and Canada, two Aboriginal women – Lynette Daley and Cindy Gladue – died in suspicious circumstances suggestive of sexual homicide. At the time of their deaths, little media attention was given to their cases. However, several years later, as their cases progressed through the criminal justice system, the media would become intensely interested and numerous reports were subsequently published. These news stories, however, demonstrated that when colonialism, racism and sexism intersect they result in victims being to apportioned blame for their subsequent deaths. This paper reports on findings from a research project that examined print and online news media from 2011 to 2018, as these cases traversed the criminal court system. It illustrates that, when taken together the colonialism, racism and sexism prevalent in the news reporting served to characterise the victims as unworthy of the public's sympathy. This paper also provides a reflection on what it might take to reform the media's engagement in cases such as these, to achieve a reimagined justice where Aboriginal women's lives are valued and respected as victims of crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To address the growing international recognition of the inequities faced by transgender (trans) persons and the lack of services that attend to the specific concerns of trans sexual assault survivors, we undertook the development of an intersectoral network of hospital-based violence treatment centers and trans-positive community organizations to enhance available supports. Aims: To examine anticipated involvement of organizations in the network and determine network activities, deliverables, and values. Methods: We developed a survey with guidance from an advisory group of trans community members and their allies. Items on the survey related to network activities, deliverables, and values, which were also informed by key insights from earlier network planning meetings, were rated on a 5-point Likert scale for their importance (1¼not important at all, 5¼very important). Results: Sixty-four out of 93 organizations invited responded to the survey, giving a response rate of 69%. The highest prioritized network activities were: improve access to support services for trans survivors, educate trans survivors on their rights/what to expect when seeking supports and information on organizations, provide ongoing education/training for service providers on trans-affirming care, and inform guidelines on appropriate and sensitive standards of care/better practices for trans survivors (means ¼ 4.6). The highest prioritized deliverables were: provision of standardized sensitivity training on violence against trans persons for professionals and development of an online directory/resource list of transaffirming service providers and organizations that is continuously updated (means ¼ 4.5). Trauma- and violence-informed and trans-guided were the most highly rated values (means ¼ 4.8). Conclusion: These findings have implications for healthcare and community leaders seeking to collaborate across sectors to address the inequities faced by trans persons experiencing sexual assault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual assault is a prevalent crime against women globally with known negative effects on health. Recent media reports in Canada indicate that many sexual assault reports are not believed by police. Negative reporting experiences of sexual assault have been associated with secondary victimization and trauma among survivors. However, little is known about the impact that being sexually assaulted and not believed by police has on a survivor's health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore women's experiences of not being believed by police after sexual assault and their perceived impact on health.Methods: We conducted open-ended and semi-structured interviews with 23 sexual assault survivors who were sexually assaulted and not believed by police. The interviews explored the self-reported health impacts of not being believed by police and were conducted from April to July, 2019. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and entered into NVIVO for analysis. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's analytic method.Results: Analysis revealed three salient themes regarding the health and social impact of not being believed by police on survivors of sexual assault: (1) Broken Expectations which resulted in loss of trust and secondary victimization, (2) Loss of Self, and (3) Cumulative Health and Social Effects. The findings showed that not being believed by police resulted in additional mental and social burdens beyond that of the sexual assault. Many survivors felt further victimized by police at a time when they needed support, leading to the use taking of alcohol and/or drugs as a coping strategy.Conclusion: Reporting a sexual assault and not being believed by police has negative health outcomes for survivors. Improving the disclosure experience is needed to mitigate the negative health and social impacts and promote healing. This is important for police, health, and social service providers who receive sexual assault disclosures and may be able to positively influence the reporting experience and overall health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of pre−/post‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP) may interfere with routine HIV screening. As a result, blood services worldwide have adopted a variety of deferral policies to mitigate increased residual risk. In this study, we evaluated the operational impact of modifying the donor health questionnaire (DHQ) to include explicit questions to assess PrEP/PEP exposure. Study Design and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study between June 2019 and October 2020 of all blood donors attempting to donate at Canadian Blood Services. Sixteen‐months post‐implementation, we summarized self‐reported PrEP/PEP rates and their indications for use. We also assessed deferral rates and the sensitivity of using existing risk questions to defer people exposed to PrEP/PEP. Results: Of 1,122,075 donations, 89 people (eight per 100,000 donations) reported PrEP (64%)/PEP (34%) use in the last 4 months. People exposed to PrEP were more likely to be men (94%) and taking PrEP for lifestyle reasons (87%). In contrast, indications for PEP use included occupational exposure (50%) and sexual assault (27%). Most donors who answered affirmatively to PrEP/PEP exposure were deferred (96%). If potential donors were not directly asked about their PrEP/PEP use, the majority would not have been deferred for any other reasons (PrEP 32/57 (56%) and PEP 15/30 (50%)). Conclusion: Not all blood services have adopted direct questions to identify PrEP/PEP exposure; some rely on existing DHQ questions. In Canada, despite DHQ questions such as medication use in the last 3‐days, more than half of people exposed to PrEP/PEP would not have been identified and deferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of public scandals and legislative pressure, Canadian universities have instituted sexualized violence policies in an attempt to curb harm on campus. As the first step, policy-making committees and task forces were established to spearhead institutional change. Using data from 49 qualitative interviews with feminist faculty across Canada, we examine how these policy-making committees utilized feminist expertise, particularly whether feminists with intersectional positionalities and expertise were invited to the table and if their expertise was used to inform the resulting institutional policies. As our findings illustrate, even though policies profess to seek or incorporate intersectionality, experts in intersectionality– particularly those with intersectional positionalities– are rarely invited or heard. As we argue in this article, post-secondary institutions actively work against intersectionality by narrowing the mandates of committees and siloing task forces from other Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) concerns. Additionally, invitations to serve as experts on sexualized violence committees are often reserved for feminists deemed by administrators to be palatable, and those invited who embody diversity are used to rubber stamp the process of creating sexualized violence responses instead of informing the policies. This article illustrates the various ways in which PSI committees' constitutions and their mandates tend to make intersectionality a performative rather than informative guiding principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous audio media are experiencing a growing movement in the field of cultural media studies. One arguably linked to the global rise of indigenous reconciliation and political action in colonial nations such as Australia, United States, Canada and New Zealand. Indigenizing the national broadcast soundscape, Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) original podcast Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo weaves its way through the patriarchal reign of liberal pluralism and settler colonialism of Canadian society from wounded vibrations of assimilation, residential school, cultural genocide, the sixties scoop, sexual assault, death and life. Through a cultural sound studies and critical media analysis framework, this article positions Finding Cleo as an anti-colonial soundwork that details the story of one of the many families involved in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) as they search for the promise of truth to heal what we conceptualize as wounded vibrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article employs a "policy cycle" framework to explore Bill C-51, legislation which contains Canada's latest amendments to the "rape shield." Through an in-depth evaluation of earlier rape shield reforms, as well as a content analysis of the legislative proceedings of Bill C-51, this paper reveals that, while the impetus for introducing rape shield legislation is to protect the equality and privacy rights of sexual assault complainants, the legislative process of these "policy cycles" focuses disproportionately on remedying due process concerns and less on the problems that arise in judicial implementation of the provisions. We situate this finding within the larger trend towards the "judicialization of politics," and trace some of the institutional and structural obstacles that impede Parliamentarians from more effectively legislating to improve sexual assault trials for complainants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined media frames in relation to the sexual violence experiences of LGBTQ persons in Canada, as members of these marginalised groups currently experience disproportionately high rates of sexual violence, as compared to straight cisgender persons. Sixty-two news articles focusing on sexual violence cases, featuring 31 LGBTQ victims and 31 straight cisgender victims, were identified using purposive sampling. The following variables were assessed: demographics and portrayal of the victims and the accused (e.g. positive, neutral, or negative tone, level of detail provided); article length, headlines, and pictures; and description of non-consensual sexual behaviours. Thematic analyses were employed to explore patterns in the news reports. Results indicated that news reports tended to dehumanise LGBTQ victims, and sensationalise their sexual violence experiences by explicitly describing non-consensual sexual acts. The individuals who were accused of sexually victimising LGBTQ persons were allocated greater coverage than the LGBTQ victims. The findings of this study implied that Canadian news media frame LGBTQ sexual violence experiences in ways that stigmatise them, and perpetuate institutional discrimination against them. The strengths and limitations of this study as well as directions for future research are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the extensive and often long-lasting sequelae of sexual assault, a significant majority of survivors do not seek assistance from formal support sources, such as police, medical or mental health professionals, and community-based agencies. While growing attention has been directed toward understanding the help-seeking barriers faced by sexual assault survivors, few studies have explored the experiences of survivors living in poverty and how help-seeking can be improved for this marginalized population. The present study sought to understand these issues from perspectives of survivors themselves. Women sexual assault survivors who self-identified as living in poverty (n = 15) were recruited from community-based agencies in the Greater Toronto Area, and participated in semistructured interviews focused on their personal decisions around help-seeking and broader views on access to and quality of formal assistance. Two research questions were of interest. First, what can be done to encourage service use among survivors living in poverty? Second, what is needed to improve the quality of assistance they receive? Thematic analysis revealed three key themes around which participants' recommendations centered: (a) increased accessibility of information, (b) improved training for formal support providers, and (c) greater opportunities for empowerment. Practical implications of these findings improving the service utilization rates and experiences of formal help-seeking among marginalized women survivors of sexual assault are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]