Why Sexual Assault Survivors Do Not Report to Universities: A Feminist Analysis

• Author: Allen Mallory,Michelle Toews,Chelsea Spencer,Leila Wood,Sandra Stith
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12241
• Published date: 01 February 2017
• Date: 01 February 2017

C S Kansas State University

A M University of Texas–Austin

M T  S S Kansas State University

L W University of Texas–Austin

Why Sexual Assault Survivors Do Not Report

to Universities: A Feminist Analysis

The present study analyzed responses from 220

female survivors of sexual assault at a U.S. col-

lege campus. Guided by feminist thought, we

used thematic analysis to analyze survivors’ rea-

sons for not reporting their sexual assault to uni-

versity ofcials. Drawing on participants’ own

words, the most common reasons for not report-

ing included “It was not a big enough deal,”

“I didn’t know who to report to or that I could

report,” “It wasn’t related to the university,”

“I was afraid,” “Because I was drunk,” “Too

ashamed to report,” “I didn’t want to get him in

trouble,” and “Felt as if I would be blamed for

putting myself in the situation.” We conducted a

series of binary logistic regressionsto determine

which demographic and experiential variables

were associated with the thematic reason(s) for

not reporting. In the spirit of feminist praxis, we

offer implications for universities to remove bar-

riers for reporting sexual violence.

Over the past several years, increased attention

from administrators, faculty, student advocates,

survivors, and researchers has illuminated the

School of Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State

University, 241 Campus Creek Complex, Manhattan, KS

66506 (cspencer@ksu.edu).

Key Words: College campuses, reporting, sexual assault,

sexual violence.

epidemic of sexual assault on college campuses.

The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study found

that approximately 19% of women were sexu-

ally assaulted during their enrollment in college

(Krebs, Lindquist, Warner, Fisher, & Martin,

2007). Another study examining sexual assault

and sexual misconduct on 27 college campuses

found that 23.6% of female undergraduate stu-

dents experienced nonconsensual sexual contact

while enrolled at their university (Cantor et al.,

2015). Further, givenunderreporting, these num-

bers may underestimate the incidence of sexual

assault (Sinozich & Langton, 2014).

Sexual assault survivors experience an array

of physical and mental health problems, includ-

ing anxiety, depression, weight change, sleep

problems, and a host of other traumatic reac-

tions (Black et al., 2011), and these effects are

often experienced over the long term (see Bor-

dere, 2017). The impact of sexual assault can

disrupt, or even end, college fors urvivors(White

House TaskForce to Protect Students From Sex-

ual Assault, 2014). Cultural norms that hold vic-

tims accountable for sexual violence and allow

for drinking to be used as an excuse for vio-

lence create a campus climate that negatively

impacts the educational experience for many

women (Buchwald, Fletcher, & Roth, 1993; Jor-

dan, Combs, & Smith 2014). Rape culture is

often embedded in university culture and leads to

a tolerance and normalization of the occurrence

166 Family Relations 66 (February 2017): 166–179

DOI:10.1111/fare.12241