Histories of Violent Victimization Among Women Who Reported Unwanted Sex in Marriages and Intimate Relationships: Findings From a Qualitative Study

• NCJ Number: 221241
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2008 Pages: 29-52
• Author(s): Kathleen C. Basile
• Date Published: January 2008
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Findings are presented from a study exploring the experiences of coerced sex by a spouse or intimate partner and other forms of prior victimization such as child maltreatment, acquaintance rape, and other nonsexual abuse by a sexually coercive partner.

Abstract

Findings reveal that women who have experienced severe types of coerced sex in their intimate relationships also experienced other traumatic sexual, physical, or psychological abuse in their lives. These women also reported low self-esteem more frequently than other women in the same sample. Research has concluded that rape and other coerced sex in marriage and intimate partner relationships are relatively prevalent. This study used 41 qualitative interviews to learn more about the experience of coerced sex by a spouse or intimate partner and other forms of prior victimization from women who completed a national survey and reported unwanted sex by a current or past husband or intimate partner. The study is a descriptive summary of the women’s histories of violent victimization. Tables, notes, and references