Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Sexual Assault : Challenging the Myths

The underlying argument of this groundbreaking study is this: Sexual orientation and gender identity influencehow sexual assault is experienced, how it is perceived, and ultimately, how victims (and perpetrators) are treatedby the criminal justice system.Focusing much of their work on the queer community-a community with a disproportionately high risk of sexualassault-the authors introduce the Identity Inclusive Sexual Assault Myth Scale (IISAMS) to explore the uniqueaspects of sexual assault and the process of disclosure as experienced by queer victims.

They also incorporateparticipant recommendations, collected during interviews, as they foreground ways for more effectivelypreventing and responding to sexual violence throughout contemporary society.