Researching rape that is not recognised:An auto/biographical understanding of woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault

Abstract

Woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault globally remain an ultimately unaddressed problem. Consequently, victims/survivors must cope with little to no support as they endure post-traumatic responses. In this chapter, I share my auto/biographical experiences of researching the perceived impacts of woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault, the subsequent experience of disclosure, reaction and support, and the consequences for victim/survivor subjective experience of occupations. My findings related to the post-traumatic survival reactions and behaviours explicate the complexities of the victim/survivor experiences; this was equally apparent when they tried to cope and survive throughout their daily lives. My study was the first of its kind to illuminate this aspect of woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault and remains one of very few studies to explore what continues to be largely invisible in the sexual violence discourse and conceptualisations. As a researcher, the significance of my positionality forced me to consider what is meant by sensitive—let alone traumatic—research.</p