2020 Theses Master's

A qualitative research approach to defining “consent” and “sexual assault” to explore barriers to reporting campus sexual assault among Asian American undergraduate women

Lee, Christina

Studies on labeling disparities in experiences of sexual violence indicate that Asian American female college students may have variable definitions and understandings of sexual violence. This suggests that there is a need to further explore the differences in definitions and labeling among Asian American populations in experiences of sexual violence: mislabeling of experiences could contribute to low rates of violence among Asian Americans. Thus, this research proposal recommends a qualitative study among a diverse sample of Asian American female college students. Asian American women of varying ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities, socioeconomic statuses, and generations will be recruited to gain insight into how individuals within this population construct definitions of consent and sexual assault. It also seeks to demonstrate that there are disparities in barriers to reporting based on the differently constructed definitions. This study will employ an intersectionality-based policy analysis (IBPA) framework and community engagement strategies to inform the understanding, translation, and dissemination of findings for public health and campus communities to improve student health and to provide context to future programs, policy, and practice.