Aphrodite Wounded: Partner Rape Resources for Professionals

WHAT'S ON THIS PAGE?

If you're a counselor, activist, medical or legal professional, researcher or any other professional who intersects with victims/survivors of Intimate Partner Sexual Assault, you may find this page useful. I will update it as I come across new information. If you know of any other programs, papers, research, books or sites that you believe should be included on this page, I would be most grateful if you would email me with details.

NEW: Australian Research launched on 15/07/08

Women's Health Murray Goulburn North East has released a comprehensive and important research report titled "Raped by a partner." Go here to find out more, or Download the report.

A BRIEF LOOK AT PROFESSIONAL RESPONSES TO PARTNER RAPE

If you are a professional who is here because you work with Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV), or you are interested in doing so, fantastic! Most workers in the fields of sexual and domestic violence are aware that responses to IPSV in the past have been problematic; for example it's been seen as either domestic violence or sexual assault, with both agencies confused about who should have ownership. It is a "both/and" rather than "either/or" issue , with some basic differences from stand-alone sexual assault or domestic violence. Some fields of relationship counseling have also tended to view it as a "family issue" rather than a highly destructive form of violence used by one partner to control the other. Women raped by husbands have had some shockingly ignorant statements made to them by counselors, clergy, doctors and legal representatives.

And, of course, there are many wonderful people in all of those fields, in organizations, and conducting research, who are dedicated, to change in public perception and working for justice and healing for survivors, and it's so crucial:

I recall that it was incredibly isolating to me in the past to see that while feminist agencies were talking about rape and domestic violence, less attention was paid to my experiences. The rape was more than just another form of domestic violence, and rape discourse didn't often allow for the complexity of issues that partner rape survivors face. It left me feeling that what happened to me was somehow "less" than other forms of rape. It was to prolong my pain.

Partner rape survivors need public recognition of their violations. Services clearly defining the issue and offering much-needed counseling and support groups - for partner rape, specifically - are a huge part of what is needed to effect personal and social justice for survivors, ensuring that this form of rape no longer remains hidden, and by extension, perpetrators protected..

What is on this page does reflect positive movement, and we can hope to see more. This page is a hub of what I know to be available currently, and I hope it will grow!

If you or your organization are doing something with IPSV, I'd be very excited to hear from you and put it on this page! Please email me.

Other absues that hapopen with partner rape
STUDIES, PAPERS AND JOURNAL ARTICLES

Pay to View | Free to Read | Current Research

Pay to View:

Differential Characteristics of Intimate Partner, Acquaintance, and Stranger Rape Survivors Examined by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) TK Logan, Jennifer Cole, and Anita Capillo, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Aug 2007; vol. 22: pp. 1066 - 1076. See Abstract
A Population-Based Study of the Prevalence and Distinctiveness of Battering, Physical Assault, and Sexual Assault in Intimate Relationships Paige Hall Smith, Gloria E. Thornton, Robert DeVellis, JoAnne Earp, and Ann L. Coker, Violence Against Women, Oct 2002; vol. 8: pp. 1208 - 1232. See Abstract
Wife Abuse and Marital Rape Among Women Who Seek Help Bonnie L. Yegidis, Affilia, Mar 1988; vol. 3: pp. 62 - 68. See Abstract
Surviving Wife Rape: How Women Define and Cope With the Violence Raquel Kennedy Bergen, Violence Against Women, Jun 1995; vol. 1: pp. 117 - 138. See Abstract
The Influence of Length of Marriage and Fidelity Status on Perception of Marital Rape Bethany A. Munge, Andrew M. Pomerantz, Jonathan C. Pettibone, and Jameca W. Falconer Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Oct 2007; vol. 22: pp. 1332 - 1339. See Abstract
Marital Rape: A Student Assessment of Rape Laws and the Marital Exemption Mary Kay Kirkwood and Dawn K Cecil Violence Against Women, Nov 2001; vol. 7: pp. 1234 - 1253. See Abstract
Studying Wife Rape: Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future Raquel Kennedy Bergen Violence Against Women, Dec 2004; vol. 10: pp. 1407 - 1416. Purchase Here
High Rape Chronicity and Low Rates of Help-Seeking Among Wife Rape Survivors in a Nonclinical Sample: Implications for Research and Practice Patricia Mahoney Violence Against Women, Sep 1999; vol. 5: pp. 993 - 1016. See Abstract
Wife Rape: A Social Problem for the 21st Century Kersti Yllo Violence Against Women, Sep 1999; vol. 5: pp. 1059 - 1063. Purchase Here
Marital Rape: History, Research, and Practice Jennifer A. Bennice and Patricia A. Resick Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, Jul 2003; vol. 4: pp. 228 - 246. See Abstract
Marriage Is the Best Defense: Policy on Marital Rape Anna Scheyett Affilia, Dec 1988; vol. 3: pp. 8 - 23. See Abstract
Pregnancy Following Partner Rape: What We Know and What We Need To Know Judith McFarlane
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, Apr 2007; vol. 8: pp. 127 - 134. See Abstract
Accomplishing the Impossible: An Advocate's Notes from the Successful Campaign to Make Marital and Date Rape a Crime in All 50 U.S. States and Other Countries LAURA X
Violence Against Women, Sep 1999; vol. 5: pp. 1064 - 1081.See Abstract
Rape by Acquiescence: The Ways in Which Women "Give in" to Unwanted Sex With Their Husbands KATHLEEN C. BASILE Violence Against Women, Sep 1999; vol. 5: pp. 1036 - 1058.See Abstract
Assessing the Prevalence of Marital Rape CHRISTINE R. HANNEKE, NANCY M. SHIELDS, and GEORGE J. McCALL Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Sep 1986; vol. 1: pp. 350 - 362. See Abstract
Men and Intimate Partner Rape: Characteristics of Men Who Sexually Abuse Their Partner Raquel Kennedy Bergen and Paul Bukovec Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Oct 2006; vol. 21: pp. 1375 - 1384. See Abstract
Women’s Responses to Sexual Violence by Male Intimates Draucker et al. West J Nurs Res.2000; 22: 385-406 See Abstract
Parallels and Pitfalls: The Aftermath of Legal Reform for Sexual Assault, Marital Rape, and Domestic Violence Victims SUSAN CARINGELLA-MacDONALD Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Jun 1988; vol. 3: pp. 174 - 189. See Abstract
The Dark Consequences of Marital Rape. AJN, American Journal of Nursing. 89(7):946-949, July 1989. CAMBELL, JACQUELYN C. 1; ALFORD, PEGGY 2 See Abstract
Marital Rape: Is the Crime Taken Seriously Without Co-occurring Physical Abuse? Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling and Candice M. Monson Journal of Family Violence IssueVolume 13, Number 4 / December, 1998 See Abstract
Separation/Divorce Sexual Assault: The Contribution of Male Support Walter S. DeKeseredy, Martin D. Schwartz, Danielle Fagen, Mandy Hall Feminist Criminology, Vol. 1, No. 3, 228-250 (2006) See Abstract
Separation/Divorce Sexual Assault in Rural Ohio: Survivors' Perceptions of Social Support Providers DeKeseredy, Walter. and Hall, Mandy See Abstract
For better or worse: the case of marital rape. For better or worse: the case of marital rape. Violence Vict. 1993 Spring;8(1):29-39.Whatley MA.Violence Vict. 1993 Spring;8(1):29-39. See Abstract
Marital rape in Scots law: a further case of interest. Shiels RS.J Forensic Sci Soc. 1990 May-Jun;30(3):131-4. See Abstract
Behind closed doors. Detecting and responding to marital rape. Goldy D, Goldy R Jr. Adv Nurse Pract. 1999 Nov;7(11):75-7. Go here
Sexual abuse within the marital relationship Grams AC, Carneiro de Sousa MJ, Roesch R, Pinto de Costa J.. Med Law. 1997;16(4):743-51. See Abstract
Gynaecological impact of sexual and physical abuse by spouse. A study of a random sample of Norwegian women Schei B, Bakketeig LS.. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1989 Dec;96(12):1379-83. See Abstract
Rape in marriage and in dating relationships: how bad is it for mental health? Kilpatrick DG, Best CL, Saunders BE, Veronen LJ. Acad Sci. 1988;528:335-44. Go here
Wife rape: barriers to identification and treatment. Weingourt R. Am J Psychother. 1985 Apr;39(2):187-92. See Abstract
Prevalence of wife rape and other intimate partner sexual coercion in a nationally representative sample of women. Basile KC. Violence Vict. 2002 Oct;17(5):511-24 See Abstract
Intimate partner sexual assault against women: frequency, health consequences, and treatment outcomes. McFarlane J, Malecha A, Watson K, Gist J, Batten E, Hall I, Smith S. Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Jan;105(1):99-108. See Abstract
The Ultimate Weapon?: Demythologizing Spousal Rape and Reconceptualizing Its Prosecution Lisa R. Eskow Stanford Law Review, Vol. 48, No. 3 (Feb., 1996), pp. 677-709 See Abstract

Free to Read:

WCSAP Connections: IPSV - Several interesting articles for professionals - Download pdf
Just "keeping the peace": A reluctance to respond to male partner sexual violence Melanie Heenan ACSSA Issues No. 1 March 2004 - Read it here or Download pdf
Intimate Partner Sexual Violence WCSAP Research & Advocacy Digest Volume 9 January 2007 Download pdf
Intimate partner sexual assault : the impact of competing demands on victims' decisions to seek criminal justice solutions Denise Lievore, Australian Institute of Criminology
Presented at: Steps forward for families: research, practice and policy
Eighth Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference Melbourne 12-14 February 2003 Download pdf
Sexual Assault in Abusive Relationships Lauren R. Taylor and Nicole Gaskin-Laniyan, Ph.D Download pdf
Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse: An International Survey and Literature Review Kim Slote and Carrie Cuthbert Read it here
A crime against women, a crime against wives Louise McOrmond-Plummer One-In-Three Neswletter, Feb 2008 Read it here
Marital Rape Barbe Kiffe, Dakota County Sexual Assault Services Download pdf
Implementation of the domestic violence screening project in a sexual assault service: an unexpected result .Hall, G; Hately, R Download Word doc here
Women Sexually Assaulted by a Partner or ex-Partner: Falling between the 'Justice' cracks. Dr. P. Easteal - Presented in 2004 at Home Truths Conference Download Word doc here
Marital Rape: New research and directions. Raquel Kennedy Bergen (2006), Applied Research Forum, National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women Download pdf

New and Current Research:

"Raped by a partner: A research Report" Women's Health Murray Goulburn North East, Read about it here or Download pdf
"Still a Long Way to Go: A Comparison of Services to Survivors of Wife Rape in 1994 and 2004” Raquel Kennedy Bergen

BOOKS AND ESSAYS IN BOOKS

Real Rape Real Pain: Help for Women Sexually Assaulted by Male Partners - Patricia Easteal and Louise McOrmond-Plummer: My co-authored book is the first of its kind written for survivors of partner rape and covering numerous subjects such as defining and naming partner rape, the perpetrators, healing, future relationships, advice for supporters and going through the courts. Although the primary audience is survivors of IPSV, it is also intended as a resource for workers

Voices of The Survivors - Patricia Easteal: An Australian text, this book covers rape in very many settings, including by husbands, boyfriends and estranged partner

The Rapist Who Pays the Rent - Ruth Hall, Selma James and Judith Kertesz: A British text which covers WAR'S fight to have rape in marriage recognized as a crime. Can be mail-ordered from WAR (Women Against Rape, UK)

License to Rape: Sexual Abuse of Wives - David Finkelhor & Kersti Yllo: This landmark study covers many aspects of rape by husbands, including affects on women and potential strategies for ending it. Also, interviews with husbands who raped their wives

Wife Rape: Understanding the Response of Survivors and Service Providers - Raquel Kennedy Bergen: Excellent study with lots of material on the responses and needs of survivors of rape by husbands, as well suggestions for change in service provision.

Rape in Marriage - Diana E.H. Russell: A must-read for anybody seeking to understand rape by partners. Ms. Russell also includes a section on the rape of lovers, i.e. boyfriends. Excellent coverage of the view of women as property from historical times. Looks intelligently at the problem of subsuming marital rape under the category of domestic violence, and the troubled history of rape crisis and domestic violence service responses to partner rape.

ESSAYS IN BOOKS:

“I just raped my wife! What are you going to do about it, Pastor?” The church and sexual violence - Carol J. Adams, in Transforming a Rape Culture, eds E Buchwald, P Fletcher & M Roth, Milkweed Editions, Minneapolis, 1995

‘Rape in Marriage: Has the License Lapsed?,’- Patricia Easteal in Patricia Easteal (ed), Balancing the Scales: Rape, Law Reform and Australian Culture (1998)

INTIMATE PARTNER SEXUAL ASSAULT TRAINING AND OTHER PROGRAMS

Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse: Adjudicating This Hidden Dimension of Domestic Violence - A comprehensive online course offered by the National Judicial Education Program of Legal Momentum
WCSAP IPSV Program: Sexual Assault and Stalking in the Context of Domestic Violence This exciting program provides technical assistance to local sexual assault and domestic violence programs to enhance their response to survivors of IPSV. It is also aimed at improving law-enforcement responses
Understanding and Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence - This one day training program, is designed to increase the knowledge and skills of refuge and domestic violence workers in relation to Intimate Partner Sexual Assault (IPSA), principally to enable participants to identify and effectively and confidently respond to disclosures of sexual violence in the course of their professional practice. Featured on the Australian Center For the Study of Sexual Assault Promising Practice webpage.
Private Nightmares, Public Secrets: Sexual Assault by Intimate Partners This 40-page manual is a guide for developing presentations for groups on the topic of sexual assault by intimate partners. It includes handouts, notes for trainers, and overhead materials. Can be purchased from Jane Doe Inc.

WEBSITES

Aphrodite Wounded: You are here! Although this website is primarily for survivors, you, the professional, may still find some useful information here.
National Clearinghouse on Marital and Date Rape - Information on the incredible work of Laura X -the founder of true IPSV awareness in the USA
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence Marital Rape Page
The Wife Rape Fact Sheet

PEER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR SURVIVORS OF PARTNER RAPE

In Raquel Bergen's study, survivors of partner rape indicated that what they most wanted were support groups specifically to speak about their issues with others who have shared their experiences.. Generic rape survivor or domestic violence support groups, unless they make room for IPSV, are often not appropriate Wife Rape: Understanding the Response of Survivors and Service Providers, Sage Publications, California, 1996). I am not currently aware of any such offline support groups right now (and I've asked around), though I am aware that one is currently being authored in the USA. It's also my intention to create a support group module in the future, so watch this space. If you do know of any services that run current groups or offer facilitator training, please email me - I would love to include them here, and also direct survivors to services that offer support.

Online peer-support is available for survivors of IPSV. I am a moderator of Pandora's Aquarium, and we are proud to have assisted many partner rape survivors in finding support and validation - indeed, it has comprised very fine support for me too. While it isn't intended to replace therapy or crisis care, we do know that peer-support is an important part of the healing process. If you would like to read about what we offer survivors, who we are, a discussion of problems with online groups and how we manage them etc. please feel free to read our article for professionals. I hope you will consider referring clients who need peer-support to us.