Dissonant Discourses in Institutional Communications on Sexual Violence. (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Musselman, Malori A.; Herrera, Andrea P.; Contreras-Medrano, Diego; Fielding, Dan Michael; Francisco, Nicole A.; Petrucci, Larissa
• Is Part Of: Journal of women, politics & policy. Volume 41:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 144
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Sexual violence -- university -- discourses -- risk -- campus sexual assault; Women -- Political activity -- Periodicals; Women's rights -- Periodicals; Women -- Government policy -- Periodicals; 323.34
• DOI: 10.1080/1554477X.2019.1697120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1554-477X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article is a discourse analysis of a large Northwestern research university's official communications regarding sexual violence for a 15-month time frame. Through close reading of these communications, we found that concurrent with high levels of criticism in the spring of 2014 over the university's handling of a high-profile rape case, the university advanced dissonant discourses of risk and responsibility in its communications regarding sexual violence. At both the institutional and individual levels, these dissonant discourses work to construct who is at risk of committing or experiencing sexual violence, and who is responsible for preventing and responding to it. In conclusion, we discuss possible implications for these dissonant discourses on the future of campus sexual violence prevention and university response.