A voice for victims
A researcher at UniSA is hoping to determine the impact of sexual abuse during childhood on Australian women who identify with an ethnic group.
PhD researcher Tanja Stojadinovic is searching for female volunteers aged 18 and above who were subjected to some form of unwanted sexual contact during their childhood.
Participants will experience two confidential and anonymous face to face interviews – one regarding their ethnic identity, the other regarding the unwanted sexual contact experienced as a child. Interviews will be conducted in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Stojadinovic believes that there is a distinct lack of ethnic diversity in other studies on child abuse.
"Within many ethnic cultures, cultural idiosyncrasies such as notions of family loyalty, shame and self-blame can play a huge role in whether victims speak out and how they feel about the abuse," she says.
Stojadinovic hopes that her research will highlight the issues faced by ethnic-identified Australian women.
"What these brave women reveal will give clear indications about the effects of child sexual abuse on women from different ethnic groups with a view to guiding treatment and intervention solutions for the future," she says.
For more information or to anonymously participate, contact Tanja Stojadinovic on 0422 813 169 or email.