Voices of Female Sexual Assault Survivors: Striving for Survivor-Centered Reporting Processes in the U.S. Criminal Justice System

IF 2.5 2区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Psychology of Women Quarterly Pub Date : 2022-11-20 DOI:10.1177/03616843221136869

Michiko Iwasaki, Matthew C. Picchiello, Casie H. Morgan, Amy L. Henninger

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Abstract

In the present qualitative study, we analyzed voices of female sexual assault survivors to enhance the survivor-centered framework. We reviewed over 1,000 comments from a survey asking participants to share experiences following their sexual assault. Participants were 460 female survivors, including 163 reporters (those who reported their sexual assault to police officers) and 297 nonreporters. We identified four core themes (safety, empowerment and choice, collaboration, and explanation of procedures) as desired characteristics for the five key response personnel groups: patrol officers, detectives, sexual assault forensic examiner nurses, State's Attorney's Office staff, and victim advocates. We identified the strengths and weaknesses of each group based on the shared experiences of culturally marginalized and nonmarginalized reporters. A general free-text question answered by participants reflected on the four core themes, but also stressed the need for multiple layers of intervention in responding to sexual assault, as seen in two secondary themes (extra support and systemic change). Nonreporters also stressed barriers to reporting and regrets about not reporting. The power of survivors’ narratives can be used to guide the criminal justice system to uphold a truly survivor-centered approach. The complexities of gender and power inequality between the perpetrators, survivors, and response personnel should also be addressed.

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女性性侵幸存者的声音：在美国刑事司法系统中争取以幸存者为中心的报告程序

在本定性研究中，我们分析了女性性侵幸存者的声音，以加强以幸存者为中心的框架。我们回顾了一项调查中的1000多条评论，该调查要求参与者分享性侵后的经历。参与者是460名女性幸存者，其中包括163名记者（向警察报告性侵的人）和297名非记者。我们确定了四个核心主题（安全、授权和选择、合作和程序解释）作为五个关键应对人员群体的期望特征：巡逻官、侦探、性侵法医护士、州检察官办公室工作人员和受害者权益倡导者。我们根据文化边缘化和非边缘化记者的共同经历，确定了每个群体的优势和劣势。与会者回答的一个一般性自由文本问题反映了四个核心主题，但也强调了在应对性侵方面需要多层干预，如两个次要主题（额外支持和系统性变革）所示。非记者还强调了报道的障碍，并对没有报道感到遗憾。幸存者叙事的力量可以用来指导刑事司法系统坚持真正以幸存者为中心的方法。犯罪者、幸存者和应对人员之间性别和权力不平等的复杂性也应该得到解决。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Psychology of Women Quarterly Multiple-

CiteScore

6.10

自引率

5.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Psychology of Women Quarterly (PWQ) is a feminist, scientific, peer-reviewed journal that publishes empirical research, critical reviews and theoretical articles that advance a field of inquiry, teaching briefs, and invited book reviews related to the psychology of women and gender. Topics include (but are not limited to) feminist approaches, methodologies, and critiques; violence against women; body image and objectification; sexism, stereotyping, and discrimination; intersectionality of gender with other social locations (such as age, ability status, class, ethnicity, race, and sexual orientation); international concerns; lifespan development and change; physical and mental well being; therapeutic interventions; sexuality; social activism; and career development. This journal will be of interest to clinicians, faculty, and researchers in all psychology disciplines, as well as those interested in the sociology of gender, women’s studies, interpersonal violence, ethnic and multicultural studies, social advocates, policy makers, and teacher education.