Understanding sexual assault: the ways in which young women conceptualize sexual violence

This thesis examines how women interact with rape myth portrayals of sexual assault in their everyday lives. Guided by a modified radical feminist framework, my research posits that sexual assault and rape myths limit women’s autonomy and self-actualization. Between February and June, 2013, I conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 young women in Metro Vancouver and inquired about their thoughts and attitudes towards sexual violence. The findings of this project indicate that women both resist and internalize rape myth attitudes and beliefs, mainly due to the simultaneous presence of dominant and countercultural (feminist) ideologies in contemporary society. Several emerging possibilities for social change are suggested.