Putting it behind? Young Indian victim-survivors of sexual violence and the quest for sexual well-being

Abstract

This article explores if and how young unmarried Indian female victim-survivors of sexual violence in an intimate relationship reclaim sexual well-being within a context of systemic impunity with structural and intersectional gender inequalities. While legal and societal structures need reform, we seek to understand how victim-survivors use their personal agency to move forward, forge new relationships and lead a fulfilling sexual life. We utilised analytic autoethnography research methods to understand these issues since they allowed us to include personal reflections and recognise the authors’ as well as study participants’ positionality. Findings highlight the importance of close female friendships combined with access to therapy to recognise and (re)frame experiences of sexual violence within an intimate relationship. None of the victim-survivors reported sexual violence to law enforcement. They struggled in the aftermath of their relationships but also used their close personal and therapeutic networks to understand how to build more satisfying intimate relations. In three cases, this involved meeting with the ex-partner to discuss the abuse. Our findings raise important questions about gender, class, friendship, social support, power and taking legal action in reclaiming sexual pleasure and rights.

Keywords:

• Intimate partner violence
• sexual violence
• well-being
• pleasure
• recovery

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Some women also describe satisfying their partner as pleasurable, finding a sense of empowerment and control in doing so.

2 Analytic autoethnography is a method in which the researcher not only draws on information from personal experiences but also conducts research in the social group in which s/he is situated.

3 This approach can be used by health professionals and researchers or among friends.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.