“It'll Come Right Back at Me”

Abstract

This study is based on qualitative analysis of interviews with 30 rape survivors. Participants who had been raped by men they knew often delayed telling anyone about the rape and experienced more negative reactions than those attacked by strangers. Reactions ranged from support and inconsistent support to silence/avoidance and hostility. The unpredictable pattern of reactions made all the survivors more hesitant about discussing their experiences with others. The results suggest the critical importance of the social context in which survivors discuss sexual victimization and why, at times, silence may be the most logical response.