Cultural Aspects of Sexual Aggression (From Race, Culture, Psychology, & Law, P 403-418, 2005, Kimberly Holt Barrett and William H. George, eds. -- See NCJ-216932)

• NCJ Number: 216948
• Author(s): Rachel E. Goldsmith; Gordon N. Hall; Christina Garcia; Jennifer Wheeler; William H. George
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter provides an overview of current perspectives and research regarding ethnocultural elements relevant to the assessment, treatment, and prevention of sexual abuse.

Abstract

Understanding culture-specific risk and protective factors that pertain to sexual assault and abuse is apparently critical in providing ethical and effective services. Failure to take into account cultural issues could increase the possibility of relapse, influence legal consequences, and contribute to other adverse outcomes. Those who have worked with ethnic minority sex offenders and victims have emphasized the need for community-based interventions. This suggests that increasing ethnic-minority membership among treatment providers and researchers will enhance attention to ethnocultural factors in the analysis and treatment of ethnic-minority sex offenders. The overview highlights the need for culture-specific theoretical and research efforts that examine models of sexual aggression and evaluate treatment and prevention effectiveness. All ethnic minority individuals have experienced some degree of discrimination and socioeconomic marginalization and may be significantly affected by intergenerational trauma and associated coping behaviors. Because many sex offenders are themselves victims, addressing links between their earlier victimization and current offending behavior may be an important treatment component. 59 references