Institutional Betrayal (IB) Experiences Following Sexual Violence Trauma Among Women in Taiwan

Background: Sexual violence is a significant issue in Taiwan, with approximately 1 in 24 individuals having experienced it. Despite the #MeToo movements of 2020 and 2023 in Taiwan, a 2023 national survey indicated that only 30% of survivors sought formal assistance. Recent studies have shed light on the phenomenon of "institutional betrayal (IB)," whereby survivors encounter inadequate support or rejection from formal systems, potentially leading to secondary trauma or re-victimization. These adverse help-seeking experiences can erode survivors' trust in seeking assistance, impeding their recovery and perpetuating silence surrounding their experiences. This study aims to investigate IB experiences among female sexual violence survivors across various institutions following the #MeToo wave in Asia, addressing a notable research gap in the field of sexual violence in Taiwan.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 women (aged 20-50) in Taiwan who had experienced sexual violence incidents at least one year before the interview. The interviews took place between December 2023 and March 2024, utilizing purposive and snowball sampling methods. Each interview lasted up to 90 minutes and aimed to explore the survivors' experiences and their associated outcomes. Thematic analysis was employed, with the research team comprising both sexual violence survivors and non-survivors as coders.

Results: The study revealed that 14 out of 30 participants encountered IB following their experiences of sexual violence. These instances of IB originated from various formal institutions in Taiwan, including education, healthcare, social services, law enforcement, and the judiciary. Five themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Participants encountered multiple instances of IB across various institutions, leading to cumulative experiences of betrayal. 2) Various forms of IB experiences: punitive actions against survivors (e.g., violation of privacy), institutional negligence in addressing or preventing sexual violence (e.g., cover-ups, failure to respond adequately, normalizing abusive situations, etc.), and a hostile societal culture (e.g., perpetuation of rape culture). 3) IB not only exacerbated the sexual violence trauma but was often perceived as more substantial than the events themselves, resulting in heightened dissociation, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and increased risk of suicidal ideation among survivors. 4) Initial interactions with support systems are crucial for trust-building and re-victimization prevention. 5) The emergence of the "secondary IB" phenomenon: Despite lacking direct engagement with formal service institutions, survivors may develop feelings of mistrust and betrayal towards existing systems and resources based on indirect observations from media and community narratives.

Conclusions and Implications: This study makes a significant contribution to the literature by examining IB following sexual violence trauma within the context of #MeToo in Taiwan, a region with limited prior research on this subject. The findings confirm the presence of IB and uncover the concept of "secondary IB." Further research in this area is imperative to comprehend how media coverage of IB affects survivors in the broader community, particularly amidst ongoing social movements such as #MeToo, which amplify discussions on sexual violence. These findings emphasize the pressing need to develop practical, trauma-informed healing strategies at the institutional level, benefiting the public and professionals in various sectors.