Survivors’ Stories of Sexual Assault on Campus

Authors

  • Erin E. Davidson University of British Columbia
  • Marla J. Buchanan University of British Columbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47634/cjcp.v56i1.69656

Abstract

Sexual assault is a common experience, with nearly 460,000 occurrences happening each year in Canada. Research suggests that women attending university are sexually assaulted at a higher frequency than the general population. Sexual assault (SA) has wide-ranging harmful physical, financial, social, and psychological impacts. Prevalence rates of SA are higher among women than men (30% versus 8%). Given the prevalence rates of SA, there is an urgent need for more research into the experiences of sexual assault, particularly in terms of knowledge from survivors of sexual assault on campus. A narrative research method was chosen for this study because it affords survivors of sexual assault the opportunity to construct a personal narrative and to give voice to their experiences. The research question for this study was: “What narratives are constructed by survivors of sexual assault on campus?” All the survivors were current students at a university in British Columbia and had experienced a sexual assault within the past 5 years. Six narrative themes emerged: (a) difficulty considering the experience as sexual assault, (b) harmful emotional consequences, (c) a hesitation to report and disclose experiences, (d) a placating or freeze response, (e) a desire to reconnect with the perpetrator, and (f) the need for education, resources, and policy changes on campus. The findings have significance for university sexual assault policies and procedures and offer valuable information for sexual assault counsellors in their practice.

Author Biographies

Erin E. Davidson, University of British Columbia

Erin E. Davidson is a graduate of the master’s program in counselling psychology at the University of British Columbia and is a registered clinical counsellor in private practice in the province of British Columbia. She is the author of Break Through the Breakup and Thriving in Non-Monogamy. Her areas of interest include sexuality, self-compassion, and relationships.

Marla J. Buchanan, University of British Columbia

Marla J. Buchanan is a professor of counselling psychology in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests involve studies in the field of traumatic stress, including intergenerational trauma, military trauma, sexual trauma, and childhood trauma.

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Published

2022-06-14

How to Cite

Davidson, E. E., & Buchanan, M. J. (2022). Survivors’ Stories of Sexual Assault on Campus. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 56(1), 108–135. https://doi.org/10.47634/cjcp.v56i1.69656

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Section

Articles/ Articles