'Nothing really happened': The invalidation of women's experiences of sexual violence

Abstract

A frequens remark wome make about experiences of phisical and sexual abuse is that 'nothing really happened'. We explore the meaning of this of events that did indeed happen is both reflected in, and reinforced by the criminal justice system. The implications of inclusion and exclussion in definitions of sexual violence are explored, especially in relation of cam paigns for legal reform. © 1990, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.