Women’s Experiences of Male-Perpetrated Sexual Assault by Sexual Orientation

Abstract

This study examined differences in male-perpetrated adult sexual assault experiences among women of various sexual orientations using a large urban convenience sample (N = 1,022). Results showed many similarities in disclosure to others, perceived helpfulness, and attributions of blame, but there were also differences by sexual orientation. Heterosexual women were more likely to experience completed sexual assault than lesbian or bisexual women. Lesbians were more likely to be assaulted by relatives than bisexual or heterosexual women. Finally, bisexual women disclosed the assault to the greatest number of formal support sources, were most likely to tell a romantic partner about the assault, received the fewest positive social reactions overall, and had higher posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology.

Sexual Violence and Help-Seeking Among LGBQ and Heterosexual College Students

“…LGBQ students were also significantly more likely to be the victim of at least one act of sexual contact when too intoxicated to consent, which mirrors Martin et al's (2011) finding that lesbian and bisexual college women experienced significantly higher rates of incapacitated sexual violence than heterosexual college women. Our findings suggest that LGBQ college students are at an increased risk for sexual violence, particularly when substance use is involved.…”

“…Martin, Fisher, Warner, Krebs, and Lindquist (2011) conducted a study of lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual female university students to compare rates of sexual violence. The researchers found that bisexual women (13.5%) experienced significantly higher rates of physically forced sexual violence than heterosexual women (4.4%) during their time at university.…”

Processes of Sexual Orientation Questioning among Heterosexual Women

“…In most cases, these studies neglect to probe for information regarding processes of sexual identity development and personal sexual histories, often rendering heterosexuality invisible. When (hetero)sexual behavior is examined, it is surrounded by discussions of risk, especially in a "hook-up" culture, with a focus on casual sex, contraception, sexually transmitted infections/diseases, substance (ab)use, and threat of sexual assault (e.g., Hughes, Johnson, & Wilsnack, 2001;Jackson, 2005;Lambert, Kahn, & Apple, 2003;Long, Ullman, Long, Mason, & Starzynski, 2007;Reddy & Dunne, 2007;Roberts, Auinger, & Klein, 2006). When not interested in sexual behavior per se, research on women's (hetero)sexual development tends to focus on gender instead; for example, the negotiation of and attitudes toward limiting gender roles, gendered heterosexual scripts, sexual double standards, and the socialization of femininity (e.g., Jackson & Cram, 2003;Kim, Sorsoli, Collins, Zylbergold, Schooler, & Tolman, 2007;Morgan & Zurbriggen, 2007;Striepe & Tolman, 2003).…”

Notes on Measuring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Bisexuals Using the PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version (PCL-C)

“…Far from coalescing into a single traumatic experience, the trauma that bisexual people experience may be experienced as an accumulation of chronic mislabelling, invisibility and erasure, negative stereotyping, social exclusion, and challenges to the authenticity of their identity. Limited evidence suggests that PTSD is elevated in the bisexual population (Alessi, Meyer, & Martin, 2013;Long, Ullman, Long, Mason, & Starzynski, 2007;Roberts, Austin, Corliss, Vandermorris, & Koenen, 2010).…”