“I thought I’m better off just trying to put this behind me” – a contemporary approach to understanding why women decide not to report sexual violence

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-11-25T04:10:15Z
dc.abstract.enSexual offence disclosures are on the rise, thought to be the result of growing numbers of prosecutions brought against well-known public figures and mobilisation of movements such as #MeToo. Despite this, data continue to indicate that most victim-survivors will never report their abuse. This study aimed to explore why women continue to decide not to report sexual assault to the police. Secondary data were collated and analysed, pertaining to survivor accounts of sexual assault, posted in response to a prominent online video entitled ‘Women Tell Us Why They Didn’t Report Their Sexual Assault’. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes regarding why women chose not to report: (1) Lack of faith in the Criminal Justice System (encompassing two sub-themes, no evidence and traumatisation of reporting), (2) Self-blame, and (3) Knowing the perpetrator. Practical applications and reforms concerning empathic police responses and CJS improvements surrounding timeliness, case progression, and conviction rates are discussed.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii we Wrocławiu
dc.contributor.authorStewart, Sophie
dc.contributor.authorWillmott, Dominic
dc.contributor.authorMurphy, Anthony
dc.contributor.authorPhillips, Catherine
dc.date.access2024-10-28
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-24T09:17:03Z
dc.date.available2025-11-24T09:17:03Z
dc.date.created2023-11-28
dc.date.issued2024-10-28
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.issue1
dc.description.physical85-101
dc.description.sdgGenderEquality
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.sdgPeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume35
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/14789949.2023.2292103
dc.identifier.eissn1478-9957
dc.identifier.issn1478-9949
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2027
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14789949.2023.2292103
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.plSexual assault
dc.subject.plrape
dc.subject.plvictim-survivor
dc.subject.pldisclosure
dc.subject.plUnder-reporting
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.title“I thought I’m better off just trying to put this behind me” – a contemporary approach to understanding why women decide not to report sexual violence
dc.title.journalThe Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle