What Is Nonconsensual Sex? Young Women Identify Sources of Coerced Sex. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: French, Bryana H.; Neville, Helen A.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 23:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 368
• Page End: 394
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: sexual coercion -- sexual scripts -- girls -- women; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801216641517
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

Extending the American Psychological Association (APA) report on the Sexualization of Girls, this study investigated how young women identified sources of coerced sex. Findings from three focus groups with 25 Black and White adolescent women uncovered a perceived overarching force that "pushed" them to have sex before they felt ready. Participants identified four domains of coerced sex: (a) Sociocultural Context, (b) Internalized Sexual Scripts, (c) Partner Manipulation of Sexual Scripts, and (d) Developmental Status. Coerced sex was a complex system consisting of cultural, peer, and internal messages that create pressures to engage in sexual activities. Future implications for research and practice are presented.