| This study examined sexual assault survivors’ experiences of informal and formal
disclosures following a sexual assault. I explored what shaped participants’ decisions to disclose
to others and how they were treated by officials, family, friends, and community members. I also
ascertained the extent to which these experiences are shaped by factors such as social class,
race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, rurality, and religion. Narrative interviews were
conducted with 8 participants over the age of 18 to assess their lived experiences of disclosing
sexual assault. Both standpoint and intersectionality theories shape the analytical lens of the
study. Standpoint theory was used to analyze the participants’ perspectives based on their
experiences. Intersectionality theory was used to examine how social categories intersect with
those experiences. Participants were recruited from sexual assault crisis centers, victim advocate
centers, mental health facilities, community bulletin boards, and a college campus; these sites
were located in the Mountain West region. The following themes emerged from the narratives:
disclosure reasons, revictimization, shame and self-blame, and supportive interactions.
Keywords: sexual assault, revictimization, standpoint, intersectionality |