"I've Never Told Anyone": A Qualitative Analysis of Interviews With College Women Who Experienced Sexual Assault and Remained Silent. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caron, Sandra L.; Mitchell, Deborah
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 28:Number 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1987
• Page End: 2009
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: sexual assault -- rape -- college women -- reporting -- qualitative study; 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: 10.1177/10778012211022766
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the decision made by some college women who are raped to tell no one . In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 college women between the ages of 19-24 who had never shared their sexual assault with anyone prior to speaking to the researchers. This study provides a systematic investigation of the factors underlying women's decisions to remain silent. The knowledge and understanding gained from these in-depth interviews offer insight for individuals and institutions to support these students and for the development of future efforts encouraging women survivors to tell someone.