The "symbolic protest" behind women's reporting of sexual assault crime to police
Document Type
Journal Article
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
School of Psychology and Social Science
RAS ID
15215
Abstract
We introduce the term symbolic protest to identify and analyze a key motivator for the reporting decisions of victims of sexual violence. We contend that reporting sexual assault crime to police is an important expression of "symbolic protest" at a criminal justice system that does not generally serve women's interests. Women show great courage and self-sacrifice in reporting sexual assault crime, and we identify three major factors that motivate them to do so, namely, (a) the need to have sexual assault recognized as a crime, (b) a desire to raise community awareness of sexual assault, and (c) a desire to protect other women and girls.
DOI
10.1177/1557085111420416
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Taylor, S. C., & Norma, C. (2012). The "symbolic protest" behind women's reporting of sexual assault crime to police. Feminist Criminology, 7(1), 24-47. Available here