The ties that bind: Family barriers for adult women seeking to report childhood sexual assault in Australia

Abstract

In this article, we observe that barriers to the disclosure and reporting of sexual assault reside within families. We draw on qualitative survey data, as well as interviews with adult victims of childhood sexual assault, to show how women are impeded by family members when attempting to disclose or report sexual assault. Taylor and Putt (2007) identified three ‘family constraints on [sexual violence] reporting’ for women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Australia. These were: 1) Family denial that sexual violence exists, 2) Reluctance to report a partner perpetrator, and 3) Fear of being ostracised for bringing shame upon the family (p. 4). We examine whether similar barriers to reporting exist for adult female survivors of childhood sexual assault who are from non-CALD backgrounds. On the basis of our findings, we urge greater police and public recognition of, and sensitivity to barriers extant within non-CALD families that contribute to the under-reporting of sexual assault by women in Australia

A scoping review of adult survivors’ experiences of shame following sexual abuse in childhood

“…Seventeen studies focused on adult women survivors of CSA, compared to six studies focused on adult men survivors, and five studies of both adult men and women. Half the studies took place in the USA ( n = 14), a further nine in Europe, two in Canada, one in New Zealand (Dorahy & Clearwater, ) and two in Australia (O'Leary, Easton, & Gould, ; Taylor & Norma, ).…”

“…However, select findings ( n = eight) do suggest that shame influences the decision to disclose or not disclose, as well as the impact of disclosure. Respondents in five of the eight studies identify shame as a central concern inhibiting disclosure (Dorahy & Clearwater, ; Easton et al, ; MacIntosh et al, ; Sorsoli et al, ; Taylor & Norma, ).…”

“…Findings show shame, or its absence, is a major influence on the decision to disclose, and that responses by others following disclosure can illicit shame. For instance, 76% of participants in Taylor and Norma's () qualitative study of women reported shame was the most frequently mentioned reason for not disclosing CSA and seeking help. The experience of the double‐bind (shame as a motivator and as inhibitor to disclosure), described in a qualitative mixed gender study (MacIntosh et al, ) of 19 survivors and their experience of disclosure of history of CSA to romantic partners, also emerged in two other qualitative studies of the experience of disclosure for male survivors of CSA (Dorahy & Clearwater, ; Sorsoli et al, ).…”

"They are Supposed to be There for Me": Using Thematic Analysis to Understand Sexual Assault Disclosures in Hispanic Families

“…Studies show that minority women are more likely to experience sexual assault but are less likely to report it in comparison to biological White women. Hispanic women, in particular, are least likely of all biological women to report cases of sexual assault (Castaneda, 2018;Taylor & Norma, 2013;Villar & Concha, 2012). The reasons to this are unknown but it is speculated that family communication plays a heavy role due to patriarchal family structures that prohibit any conversations about sex.…”

“…Negative responses may elicit feelings of shame and blame instead of understanding. Researchers state that absence of a response is also considered a negative experience for survivors (Taylor & Norma, 2013). The fear of a negative response can force survivors to refrain from communicating about their trauma (Durham, 2008).…”