Understanding Sexual Violence and Harassment Experiences Among Asian Female Students: A Qualitative Study at University of California

Background and Purpose: Evidence suggests that sexual violence and sexual harassment (SVSH) affect one in four students on college campuses. However, the experiences and service utilization of minority students, particularly Asian students, in relation to SVSH remain largely understudied. To assess the effectiveness of existing resources and identify the potential unmet needs of Asian student-survivors, it is essential to gain insight into their perceptions of SVSH and of the campus services available to them, as well as their distinct help-seeking behaviors.

Methods: In response to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes during COVID-19, the Double Jeopardy study used mixed-methods to explore how Asian female students at the University of California (UC) experience the intersection of racism and sexual violence. As part of the study, we conducted 53 in-depth interviews with female Asian student-survivors from UC campuses. Participants included predominantly Chinese, Korean, Indian, Vietnamese, and Japanese students, with varying sexual orientations. Grounded-theory-guided thematic analysis was conducted and triangulated by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from public health and social welfare.

Results: Asian cultural factors, intergenerational differences, and negative discourses around help-seeking emerged as three main themes that influenced participants’ perceptions and responses to SVSH. Participants reported that Asian families often perceived sexuality as a "taboo" subject, hindering open discussions and opportunities for education. Generational gaps in the perception of gender roles and sexuality created a cultural divide between Asian college student-survivors and their parents. Participants also narrated how family collectivism, which emphasizes collective identity and familial honor, led to feelings of shame, rejection, and isolation during the SVSH disclosure and help-seeking process. Survivors faced significant challenges in reporting SVSH experiences and accessing healing resources, due to mistrust in institutions and skepticism around help-seeking resources among peers. Many also feared blame from parents and “social backlash” from their peers if they disclosed their SVSH experiences. The lack of adequate support from both peers and families, as well as insufficient and inaccessible institutional support, deterred survivors from seeking necessary help, exacerbating the impact of trauma.

Conclusions and Implications: The university plays a crucial role in fostering a safe environment for student-survivors, as Asian students often rely on university resources to learn about and cope with SVSH due to limited family discussions on the topic. Many students seek informal support from peers, avoiding formal campus resources like Title IX offices. This preference may be due to unawareness of available formal confidential resources or a desire to maintain confidentiality. Additionally, concerns about potential negative consequences from using campus resources, as shared among Asian peer groups, influence this choice. Therefore, facilitating peer support groups and training students to support each other during SVSH incidents are crucial steps toward a safer campus. We also recommend developing an anti-racist approach to on-campus SVSH and increasing transparency in how universities address student mental health services to counteract negative discourses.