Urban, Suburban, and Rural Variations in Separation/Divorce Rape/Sexual Assault

• Author: Walter S. DeKeseredy,Molly Dragiewicz,Callie Marie Rennison
• Published date: 01 October 2012
• Date: 01 October 2012
• DOI: 10.1177/1557085111435660

Feminist Criminology

7(4) 282 –297

© The Author(s) 2012

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DOI: 10.1177/1557085111435660

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5660Feminist CriminologyRennison et al.

1University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA

2University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, Canada

Corresponding Author:

Callie Marie Rennison, School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado, Denver, 1380 Lawrence Street,

Suite 500, CO 80204, USA

Email: callie.rennison@ucdenver.edu

Urban, Suburban, and

Rural Variations in

Separation/Divorce Rape/

Sexual Assault: Results

from the National Crime

Victimization Survey

Callie Marie Rennison1, Walter S. DeKeseredy2,

and Molly Dragiewicz2

Abstract

To date , no large study has looked at whether separation/divorce sexual assault varies

across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The authors use 1992-2009 NCVS (National

Crime Victimization Sur vey) data to estimate the percentage of separation/divorce

sexual assault against women in urban, suburban, and rural communities. In addition,

the authors identify and compare the relative risk of sexual assault victimization for

women across areas. Findings indicate that a higher percentage of rural divorced/

separated women were victims of rape/sexual assault than were urban divorced/

separated women. In addition, rural separated women are victims of intimate rape/

sexual assault at significantly higher rates than their suburban and urban counterparts.

Keywords

violence against women, sexual assault, marital status, separation, divorce, rural, urban,

suburban

Introduction

Contrary to popular belief, most battered women eventually leave their abusive part-

ners (DeKeseredy, Rogness, & Schwartz, 2004; Sev’er, 2002). However, abused w omen

Rennison et al. 283

face “dangerous exits” as the risk of assault persists and often escalates at separation

or divorce (DeKeseredy & Schwartz, 2009). A growing body of literature has begun

to address the characteristics of separation/divorce assault. Exploratory research sug-

gests that separation/divorce rape and sexual assault may be more prevalent in rural

areas than in urban and suburban areas (DeKeseredy & Schwartz, 2009).1 Findings

based on National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) data show that rural separated

and divorced women are at higher risk of being physically assaulted by partners or

former partners than their nonrural counterparts (Rennison, DeKeseredy, & Dragiewicz,

2010),2 However, to date, no large-scale study has looked at whether separation/

divorce rape/sexual assault varies across urban, suburban, and rural areas (referred to

as “geographic areas” in this article) of the United States. To address this significant

research gap, we use 1992-2009 NCVS data to estimate and compare the percentage

of separation/divorce rape/sexual assault against women in urban, suburban, and rural

communities. In addition, we identify and compare the relative risk of rape/sexual

assault victimization for women across geographic areas.

Literature Review

Women’s risk of violence does not end when they leave an abusive partner. In fact,

separated and divorced women are at very high risk of the most serious forms of vio-

lence, including being beaten or killed (Brownridge, 2009; DeKeseredy (2011);

Johnson & Dawson, 2011). For example, the Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study

(CWHRS) found that of 59 women killed, 23% were leaving or trying to leave their

partners just prior to their death (Block, 2000). Seventeen percent of the women had

already left and their partners were attempting to “renew the relationship.”

Brownridge’s (2006) in-depth review of the international literature reveals that

divorced women are up to 9 times more likely than married women to be physically

assaulted by intimate partners. Women who are separated but not yet divorced are as

much as 30 times more likely to experience this type of violence. Some studies suggest

that the risk of physical assault peaks for women during the first 2 months following

separation and when women attempt permanent separation through legal or other means

(DeKeseredy, 2007; DeKeseredy & Schwartz, 2009). Women are also at risk of being

stalked during and after separation/divorce. The U.S. National Violence Against Women

Survey found that 42.8% of stalking victims stated that their stalking experiences started

after their relationships ended (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). In addition to homicide,

stalking, and physical assault, abused women face a high risk of rape and sexual assault

at separation or divorce.3 For example, Fleury, Sullivan, and Bybee (2000) found that of

the 49 women in their sample who were assaulted by a former partner, 20% were raped.

Given the extant literature on separation/divorce assault, it is not surprising that many

survivors of violence report that “they were never more frightened than in the days,

weeks, or months after they moved out” (Stark, 2007, p. 116). This study seeks to con-

tribute to the understanding of separation and divorce rape and sexual assault in order

to more effectively prevent and respond to these types of violence.