“We’re just catching folks where we can and trying to make sure that we all survive.” That’s how one advocate described their work with survivors of sexual violence.
In the U.S., 54% of women, 31% of men, and 41% of transgender and non-binary people have experienced sexual assault. Rates for people of color, those who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, and those experiencing poverty are higher. Sexual violence is associated with numerous mental and physical health conditions, however, just one in five survivors of sexual assault seek medical care and fewer than 40% of those receive follow-up care.
Assistant Professor LB Klein, co-principal investigator, and a team of researchers are undertaking a project to better understand barriers to care, survivors’ experiences with care, and the physical, mental health, and economic disparities that follow sexual assault.
As a part of the study, they talked to 20 culturally-specific and LGBTQIA2S+- specific sexual violence survivor advocates working across 12 states. Participants were advocates who worked with sexual assault survivors with whom they had shared identities. According to Dr. Klein, “Advocates described healing as relational, community-rooted, and deeply connected to identity, dignity, and survival—often taking place outside formal systems that are inaccessible or retraumatizing for many survivors.”
“Their insights challenge narrow, system-driven definitions of trauma-informed care and point toward more expansive, community-led approaches to healing,” Klein said.
One recently published paper from the project highlights four themes drawn from participants’ own words:
- “You’re a Human Being in Front of Me”
- “Trying to Make Sure That We All Survive”
- “Safety Can Also Be Feeling Safe in Your Body”
- “We Are Community; We Are Here”
Results from this first paper indicate implications for a number of areas. Social work practice could benefit from broadening its understanding of what healing means and cultivating more spaces for healing that are “relational, embodied, culturally rooted, and community oriented.” Policy and funding mechanisms could be updated to reflect the flexible, culturally-responsive, community-led care that aligns with survivors’ lived realities that advocates often seek to offer. Finally, research could continue to center the voices and experiences of culturally-specific and LGBTQIA+ advocates who “often innovate approaches that respond directly to survivors’ social locations and lived experiences,” according to Klein.
This paper is a part of a larger study on post-sexual assault care for survivors of color, LGBTQIA2S+ survivors, and survivors living in poverty funded by the Increasing Social and Economic Inclusion initiative at UW-Madison. In addition to in-depth interviews with advocates, the team conducted interviews with survivors of sexual assault, and sought input from nurses, social workers, and advocacy organizations about barriers to seeking post-assault care to develop a tool to measure barriers and facilitators to sexual assault services.
“I’m deeply thankful to the advocates who shared their time, experiences, and wisdom with us. This paper exists because of their care, labor, and commitment to their communities,” Klein said.
In addition to Dr. Klein, team members include Taylan Stulting, Jamie Jiwon Lee, Padideh Hassanpour, Sanika Pawalkar, co-principal investigator Dr. Jeneile Luebke, and principal investigator Dr. Kate Walsh.