How do sexual violence survivors who must share common social spaces and mutual social relationships with their perpetrators represent their navigation of a secondary victimisation?

dc.contributor.advisorBennett, Jane
dc.contributor.authorIsrael, Jahaan
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-24T09:45:14Z
dc.date.available2025-11-24T09:45:14Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2025-11-24T09:42:01Z
dc.description.abstractThis research explores the way sexual violence survivors navigate their experiences of secondary victimisation when they have to share social spaces with their perpetrator(s). Existing literature on secondary victimisation primarily focuses on court processes and psychological impacts, highlighting the ways survivors of sexual violence face re- traumatisation in institutional settings. However, there remains limited research on the daily social realities of survivors, specifically their interactions and shared environments with perpetrators, outside of familial contexts. This dissertation addresses this gap by exploring how survivors of sexual violence experience and make sense of these social dynamics, particularly within the context of secondary victimisation. Using qualitative methods, data were collected through in-depth interviews with seven participants who shared their lived experiences. Key findings include the significant impact re-encountering perpetrators has on the emotional wellbeing of victims, social relationships, and how they perform academically; the non-linear nature of the 'aftermath'; and the manner in which victims find solidarity in survivors that have been through something similar. My interviewees shed light on the way e-spaces can be platforms of empowerment (by giving survivors the chance to find community and a place for them to practice their activism) and/or secondary traumatisation (as there is potential for them to be exposed to perpetrators). This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the lived realities of survivors, emphasising the urgent need for supportive interventions that account for the ongoing risks of shared social spaces.
dc.identifier.apacitationIsrael, J. (2025). <i>How do sexual violence survivors who must share common social spaces and mutual social relationships with their perpetrators represent their navigation of a secondary victimisation?</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,African Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42309en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationIsrael, Jahaan. <i>"How do sexual violence survivors who must share common social spaces and mutual social relationships with their perpetrators represent their navigation of a secondary victimisation?."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,African Studies, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42309en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationIsrael, J. 2025. How do sexual violence survivors who must share common social spaces and mutual social relationships with their perpetrators represent their navigation of a secondary victimisation?. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,African Studies. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42309en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Israel, Jahaan AB - This research explores the way sexual violence survivors navigate their experiences of secondary victimisation when they have to share social spaces with their perpetrator(s). Existing literature on secondary victimisation primarily focuses on court processes and psychological impacts, highlighting the ways survivors of sexual violence face re- traumatisation in institutional settings. However, there remains limited research on the daily social realities of survivors, specifically their interactions and shared environments with perpetrators, outside of familial contexts. This dissertation addresses this gap by exploring how survivors of sexual violence experience and make sense of these social dynamics, particularly within the context of secondary victimisation. Using qualitative methods, data were collected through in-depth interviews with seven participants who shared their lived experiences. Key findings include the significant impact re-encountering perpetrators has on the emotional wellbeing of victims, social relationships, and how they perform academically; the non-linear nature of the 'aftermath'; and the manner in which victims find solidarity in survivors that have been through something similar. My interviewees shed light on the way e-spaces can be platforms of empowerment (by giving survivors the chance to find community and a place for them to practice their activism) and/or secondary traumatisation (as there is potential for them to be exposed to perpetrators). This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the lived realities of survivors, emphasising the urgent need for supportive interventions that account for the ongoing risks of shared social spaces. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Sexual violence KW - Social relationships KW - Secondary victimisation LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - How do sexual violence survivors who must share common social spaces and mutual social relationships with their perpetrators represent their navigation of a secondary victimisation? TI - How do sexual violence survivors who must share common social spaces and mutual social relationships with their perpetrators represent their navigation of a secondary victimisation? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42309 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42309
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationIsrael J. How do sexual violence survivors who must share common social spaces and mutual social relationships with their perpetrators represent their navigation of a secondary victimisation?. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,African Studies, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42309en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentAfrican Studies
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectSexual violence
dc.subjectSocial relationships
dc.subjectSecondary victimisation
dc.titleHow do sexual violence survivors who must share common social spaces and mutual social relationships with their perpetrators represent their navigation of a secondary victimisation?
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
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