Premium
Why Sexual Assault Survivors Do Not Report to Universities: A Feminist Analysis
Author(s) -
Spencer Chelsea,
Mallory Allen,
Toews Michelle,
Stith Sandra,
Wood Leila
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/fare.12241
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , sexual assault , psychology , praxis , criminology , sexual abuse , social psychology , suicide prevention , poison control , sociology , medicine , political science , qualitative research , law , social science , medical emergency
The present study analyzed responses from 220 female survivors of sexual assault at a U.S. college campus. Guided by feminist thought, we used thematic analysis to analyze survivors' reasons for not reporting their sexual assault to university officials. Drawing on participants' own words, the most common reasons for not reporting included “It was not a big enough deal,” “I didn't know who to report to or that I could report,” “It wasn't related to the university,” “I was afraid,” “Because I was drunk,” “Too ashamed to report,” “I didn't want to get him in trouble,” and “Felt as if I would be blamed for putting myself in the situation.” We conducted a series of binary logistic regressions to determine which demographic and experiential variables were associated with the thematic reason(s) for not reporting. In the spirit of feminist praxis, we offer implications for universities to remove barriers for reporting sexual violence.