Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Advisor

Natalie Rothman

Committee Member

Joshua Boe

Abstract

Sexual assault is a traumatic experience that transcends the day of the attack. Pre-assault, assault, and post-assault each hold influential pieces in the lives of sexual assault survivors. Within these three stages of time, factors such as societal ideals, gender roles, culture, age, gender, social support, social reactions, etc. all change the experience of the survivor. Disclosure of sexual assault is a complex portion of the post-assault experience. Disclosure can be done through informal or formal support networks. Social reactions to sexual assault disclosure impact the survivor greatly. Specifically, Chicana sexual assault survivors have unique experiences with sexual assault and disclosure. Chicano culture prioritizes gender roles, family peace, and silence over the wellbeing of Chicana sexual assault survivors. In this qualitative study, hermeneutic phenomenology was used to explore what characteristics of family members of Chicana sexual assault survivors help them feel safe to disclose their assault. This exploration was done through recorded phone interviews to protect the anonymity of the participants. Eight Chicana sexual assault survivors agreed to take part in semi-structured phone interviews exploring questions surrounding factors impacting their feelings of safety disclosing to their Chicano family. This study found that family dynamics and the effects of gender norms and specifically marianismo impacted the feeling of safety disclosing to Chicano family members. Within each of these themes, various subthemes emerged such as supportive familismo, obligatory familismo, referent familismo, chisme, simpática, and respeto. Keywords: Chicana, sexual assault, trauma, disclosure, hermeneutic phenomenology, familismo, marianismo

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