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Sexual Assault Impacts on Sexuality and Queer Identity: A Qualitative Study of Queer Substance-Involved Sexual Assault Survivors

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Abstract

Sexual violence has many impacts on survivors’ sexuality, but most research has focused on how it affects sexual behaviors and relationships rather than survivor conceptions of their sexuality more holistically. In addition, most research is centered around straight survivors. The current study used qualitative interview data from a queer sample of substance-involved sexual assault survivors to explore how they described their sexuality post-assault. Three themes were identified in analysis: harming survivors’ sexuality, shame/questioning their sexuality, and sexuality exploration as resistance. Implications for supporting survivors in their sexuality as well as broader societal changes are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the survivors who participated in this study and two undergraduate research assistants, Kim and Lynette, for help with transcription.

Funding

Funding for this study was received from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Colorado State University, B258 Clark Building, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Erin O’Callaghan

  2. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA

    Veronica Shepp

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois-Chicago, 1007 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60607, USA

    Caroline Bailey

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  1. Erin O’Callaghan
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  2. Veronica Shepp
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  3. Caroline Bailey
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Correspondence to Erin O’Callaghan.

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O’Callaghan, E., Shepp, V. & Bailey, C. Sexual Assault Impacts on Sexuality and Queer Identity: A Qualitative Study of Queer Substance-Involved Sexual Assault Survivors. Crit Crim 31, 1063–1080 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-024-09752-w

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