Speaking about sexual abuse in British South Asian communities: offenders, victims and the challenges of shame and reintegration

Cowburn, Malcolm; Gill, Aisha K.; Harrison, Karen

Abstract

Cultural dynamics have a significant impact on how sexual matters, including sexual abuse, are discussed in British South Asian communities. The ways in which these communities talk about sexual violence often reinforce patriarchal norms and values, especially those concerned with honour and shame. As a result, victims are either silenced or the blame for the sexual violence they have suffered is laid at their own feet. Addressing the fact that these problems are rooted in patriarchal norms and values is key to understanding how to tackle sexual offending effectively in such communities. Both retributive and restorative justice are necessary in responding to sex crimes; retributive approaches help to recognise victims’ suffering, while restorative approaches offer promising avenues for encouraging victims and offenders alike to speak about their experiences. Both approaches are essential components to reintegrating victims and offenders into their communities.

Citation

Cowburn, M., Gill, A. K., & Harrison, K. (2015). Speaking about sexual abuse in British South Asian communities: offenders, victims and the challenges of shame and reintegration. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 21(1), 4-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2014.929188

• Acceptance Date: Apr 1, 2014
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: May 20, 2016
• Journal: Journal of sexual aggression
• Print ISSN: 1355-2600
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 4-15
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2014.929188
• Keywords: Sex offenders; South Asian communities; Cultural dynamics; Honour; Reintegrative shaming; Restorative Justice; Victim survivors
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/438457
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13552600.2014.929188
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of sexual aggression on 1 July 2014, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13552600.2014.929188.
• Contract Date: May 20, 2016