“I am talking about it because I want to stop it”: child sexual abuse and sexual violence against women in British South Asian communities

Aisha K. Gill , K. Harrison

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    Abstract

    This paper explores the role of socio-cultural factors in violence against women and girls, focusing on child sexual abuse (CSA) and sexual violence (SV) in British South Asian communities. Using examples from thirteen in-depth interviews with survivors, the researchers examine (i) how abusers gain access to their victims, (ii) family and community responses, and (iii) the role of cultural factors in concealing CSA/SV. The interviews demonstrate that British South Asian survivors are extremely reluctant to disclose SV/CSA due to factors that other groups of victims usually do not face, including a general taboo about discussing sex and strong cultural norms around notions of shame.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)511–529
    JournalBRITISH JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY
    Volume 59
    Issue number3
    Early online date14 Dec 2018
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2019

    Keywords

    • child sexual abuse
    • sexual violence
    • honour
    • shame
    • South Asian communities

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