Life after #MeToo: Understanding the impact of adolescent sexual assault on education and career

Abstract

This article tells the story of four adult women whose lives and educational journeys were impacted by sexual violence during adolescence. Through in-depth interviews and a focus group these women reflect on the ways that sexual violence impacted their lives as learners and changed their life course. Their stories support and extend previous research that indicates that sexual assault during adolescence negatively impacts academic achievement and alters career and life goal-setting. Importantly, participants in this study perceive that elementary and secondary schools are failing girls on the issue of sexual violence, and in some cases are causing survivors additional harm. The presentation of findings is "data heavy" as it is the survivors own words which most accurately describe the impact of sexual violence on the lives of women.