Citation

Holland KJ, Bedera N. Violence Against Women 2019; ePub(ePub): 1077801219863879.

Affiliation

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801219863879

PMID

31354086

Abstract

Formal support providers can play a critical role in sexual assault survivors' well-being (e.g., providing resource referrals). In a university setting, resident assistants (RAs) are key support providers with a unique relationship to survivors based on their dual roles as help-provider and peer. We examined 305 RAs' responses to student sexual assault disclosure scenarios. Employing a critical discourse analysis, we identified four discourses used by RAs in their discussion of resources: controlling, gatekeeping, minimizing, and empowering. Due to power dynamics between RAs and residents, we conclude that empowering discourses would facilitate survivors' access to other resources (e.g., sexual assault center).

Language: en

Keywords

college; sexual assault; social support