“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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