Experiences of marital rape in Puerto Rican adult women: A phenomenological study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37226/rcp.v4i3.4845Keywords:
couple, patriarchal terrorism, marital rape, violenceAbstract
Marital rape (MR)is one of the manifestations of domestic violence most harmful to women's physical and emotional health. This research explored the meaning of the experience of marital rape suffered by Puerto Rican adult women in past relationships. In addition, the emotional coping and resistance strategies expressed by the participants in their experience of sexual assault are described. The research had a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. The participants were eight Puerto Rican women, recruited by availability, who survived experiences of marital sexual rape. A semi-structured interview was used to gather the information. The narrative data was analyzed using Wolcott's method (1994). Three categories emerged from the qualitative analysis. It is concluded that MR is a phenomenon inserted within complex relationships of domestic violence, which elicits consequences and significance associated with the cycle of domestic violence and trauma. It is further concluded that gender educational processes are still required that undermine women's ideas of subordination as a possible ideological basis for sexual victimization.
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