Global Perspectives on Sexual Violence: Understanding the Experiences of Marginalized Populations and Elucidating the Role of Sociocultural Factors in Sexual Violence

Abstract

Objective: The growth of the #MeToo movement suggested the beginnings of a sexual violence reckoning. Despite the global reach of this movement, changes in the ways in which societies understand and respond to sexual violence remain in their early stages. It is also apparent that our understanding of the impact of sexual violence, how survivors recover, and the factors that affect sexual violence vulnerability is extremely limited within certain contexts and populations.However, suchwork is critical in spurring meaningful societal changes. The purpose of this special issue of Psychology of Violence is to highlight research in three key understudied areas: sexual violence among marginalized populations, the role of macro/meso/exosystem factors in affecting sexual violence risk and recovery, and the global prevalence of sexual violence. Method: This special issue consists of seven empirical and review articles that address sexual violence among marginalized populations including LGBQ+ individuals and Arab Americans; the role of factors at the macro/meso/exosystem levels in affecting sexual violence risk and recovery, including attitudes, laws, and environmental stressors; research assessing the prevalence of sexual violence in different global regions. Results: The included articles delineate the complexities in understanding sexual violence across populations and contexts, provide key novel insights into our understanding of several aspects of sexual violence, as well as identify key gaps in our understanding. Discussion: This special issue is intended to spur future research that will be informative in the development of interventions seeking to eradicate sexual violence and support survivors’ recovery worldwide.