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Violence Against Women, Vol. 13, No. 4, 412-443 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1077801207299191

Barriers to Working With Sexual Assault Survivors

A Qualitative Study of Rape Crisis Center Workers

Sarah E. Ullman

University of Illinois at Chicago

Stephanie M. Townsend

University of Illinois at Chicago

To better understand barriers service providers may face when advocating for survivors, a study using grounded theory and qualitative, semistructured interviews was conducted of rape victim advocates (N= 25) working in rape crisis centers in a large metropolitan area. Broader societal attitudes framed and were reflected in institutional responses to victims and in barriers faced by advocates working with survivors. Organizational barriers noted by advocates related to resources, environmental factors, professionalization, and racism. Staff burnout was a major barrier affecting advocates' ability to help survivors. Finally, the most salient direct service barrier was secondary victimization by criminal justice and medical or mental health systems.

Key Words: barriers to service • rape victim advocates • sexual assault survivors


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