NYCAgainstRape Research Department Research to Practice

Predictors of Sexual Coercion Against Women and Men: A Multi-level, Multinational Study of University Students

This presentation covered findings from a large multinational study on sexual coercion. It focused on whether the status of women and adversarial sexual beliefs predicted differences in sexual coercion across 38 sites from around the world and whether sexual revictimization operated across gender and cultures. The first study to explore these issues multinationally, this study adds to the body of knowledge around risk factors for perpetration of sexual coercion and explores sexual coercion against both men and women in light of feminist theory.

Structural Risk Factors for Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence

Most research on perpetration of sexual violence focuses on individual risk factors; Dr. Raghavan spoke about her research into structural and social risk factors for intimate partner violence. A conceptual question that she uses to frame all her research is the extent to which models of intimate partner violence differ across populations defined by race, culture, and sexual orientation.

The Critical Importance of a Resource Guide

This presentation reviews what we do and dont know about the mental health services available to sexual violence survivors in New York City. It focuses on the necessity of mapping resources, cultivating resources, and ensuring that providers in the many service sectors accessed by survivors have the capacity to address the health impact of sexual violence or make reliable referrals.

Mapping and Measuring the Mental Health Services Available to Survivors of Sexual Violence in NYC

A group of students pursuing coursework at the New School Universitys Graduate Program of International Affairs partnered with the Alliance to pilot a survey that maps and measures the mental health resources available to survivors of sexual violence in New York City. The survey aimed to systematically catalogue the services offered by various rape crisis programs in New York City and to identify the training needs providers in community based mental health organizations have around sexual violence.

In this presentation, graduate students from the New Schools presented on 1) their experience conducting this survey 2) their findings from the pilot project and 3) their recommendations for completing this citywide assessment.

If you build it ... will they come?

Increasingly, NYC health providers are recognizing the importance of universally screening women and children for histories of intimate partner and sexual violence. However, many are reluctant to initiate broad-based screening without having an adequate referral system in place for patients who answer Yes. I am experiencing sexual violence.

How do we determine if NYC has adequate mental health resources to initiate a universal screening process? Can these two systems be scaled-up simultaneously? Is it irresponsible to start screening before we have enough services in place, or does screening itself function as a beneficial intervention for women experiencing intimate partner or sexual violence? How do we balance our past experience with survivors not accessing referrals with our obligation to ensure that those who need services have access?

In this presentation, a team of experts with experience instituting screening protocols spoke about their experience and reflect on New York Citys capacity issues.