L'expérience subjective des femmes de diverses origines ethniques victimes d'agressions sexuelles intrafamiliales pendant l'enfance: Deux études de cas

Introduction

Child sexual abuse (under 18 years old) in women is a widespread problem in all communities, with many serious consequences. Although there are several studies concerning victims of sexual assault, few focuses on their experiences by taking ethnocultural aspects into account. Moreover, although internal attribution is common among victims, i.e., feelings of guilt and shame, few studies explore this aspect in victims from different ethno-cultural backgrounds. However, specific values in different cultures can influence the emotions victims feel and, thus their experiences.

Objective

This article aims to explore the experiences of victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuse from different ethno-cultural backgrounds.

Method

Two case studies were carried out. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with two women from different ethnocultural backgrounds who were victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuse.

Results

The results reveal some similarities between the experiences of these two volunteers, despite their diverse backgrounds, notably concerning the relationship with their mother, gender roles, cultural differences, identity issues, sexuality, feelings of shame and guilt, and consequences of sexual assault.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of conducting more research on the subject to understand their experiences better. This will enable us to assess their needs better and provide appropriate support.