Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV) is a global issue that impacts women of all social locations, but it disproportionately impacts racialized immigrant women. While there is a lack of literature on the topic of IPSV in general, there is a particular dearth of research on the prosecution of IPSV cases involving racialized immigrant women in Canada. There is little research on how these women are revictimized within the criminal justice system because of rape myths pertaining to IPSV, race, and citizenship. In this project, I aim to interrogate the legal rhetoric within judicial decisions regarding cases of IPSV involving racialized immigrant women. In so doing, I ask: How do judges conceptualize racialized immigrant women in cases of IPSV? How do these conceptualizations reproduce myths and stereotypes about these women who report IPSV? I use Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA) to mobilize law as a gendering and racializing practice in my analysis of eight summaries of judicial decisions of criminal and immigration proceedings pertaining to IPSV. Critical Race Theory (CRT) contributes to my theoretical framework to advance our understanding of law as a gendering and racializing practice. Through an abductive process, I find three discourses that dominate judicial decisions: ‘ideal’ victims resist sexual assault and do not delay in reporting; ‘ideal’ victims do not know or maintain ongoing contact with the accused; and judges excuse defendants of sexual assault due to the beliefs that male sexuality is uncontrollable, and women pursue false allegations. These rape myths normalize violence against women of colour and immigrant women by reinforcing the view that they are ‘non-ideal’ victims.

Despite the many advancements to forensic DNA analysis adopted by crime laboratories across the country, the most common method for the differential extraction of sexual assault samples has remained relatively unchanged since forensic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) typing was discovered in 1985. As the quantity and quality of extracted DNA has significant implications on the success of subsequent analysis methods, the development and optimization of effective extraction procedures is vital to progressing the field of forensic DNA analysis. The graduate students and faculty at the Boston University School of Medicine have been developing a differential extraction process that utilizes a multi-enzymatic approach to preferentially lyse and wash the cell types within temperature controlled environments. The overall procedure is less labor-intensive and time-consuming than the conventional method. Through the extraction process, the inhibitory nature of each enzyme on the amplification process is avoided, circumventing the need for an additional purification step. A single centrifugation step is required in order to pellet the sperm while the cumbersome wash steps are replaced with selective digestion in order to remove the residual epithelial cell DNA from the sperm fraction. The three enzyme used (EA1, Benzonase®, and Acrosolv) operate optimally at distinct temperatures which allows for controlled and sequential activation to achieve desired lysis and digestion outcomes. The enzymatic reactions are conducted within a DNA extraction lab thermal cycler to obtain rapid and accurate temperature changes. This novel temperature controlled differential extraction protocol has been developed and optimized for extraction of primarily liquid mixed samples in 0.2 milliliter (mL) tubes. The epithelial cell lysis and sperm cell lysis stages of the extraction contained a final reaction volume of 100 microliters (µL). Slight modifications to this 100 direct-lysis differential extraction method resulted in a similarly efficient method with a high male DNA yield (74-100%) and minimal female carryover among varying ratios of epithelial cells to sperm cells. This sensitive technique provided nearly complete profiles (14/16 loci) of the male contributor in mixed samples containing ~15,200 female epithelial cells and ~500 sperm, with complete profiles observed in mixed samples containing ~1000 sperm. This modified extraction protocol better accommodates sample sizes that may be encountered in forensic casework testing while providing a more concentrated sperm fraction, possibly eliminating the need for an additional concentration step in some dilute samples. The ease of implementation and the rapid processing time of 2-3 hours make it a great candidate for use in forensic DNA laboratories and may help alleviate backlogs of sexual assault kit. However, further work is needed to alter the composition of the sperm lysis buffer to make it compatible with currently used amplification kits. Until such time, caution must be taken in the kit selection used for amplification of extracts produced with this method. This study also demonstrated a sensitivity of the GlobalFiler® PCR Amplification Kit to inhibition by the buffers used in this extraction protocol, particularly the Orange+ Buffer. This inhibition has dramatic effects on the profile quality of the amplified sperm fractions, with extensive allelic drop-out observed even when the Orange+ Buffer concentration was scaled from 1.0X to 0.2X. Amplification using the AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler® Plus PCR Amplification Kit showed marginal recovery in the profile quality. Other expanded-loci STR amplification kits may also demonstrate resistance to this inhibition.

Differential extraction has proven to be a challenging and time-consuming process, often requiring up to six hours of a forensic analyst’s concentration. With the ever-increasing backlog of sexual assault evidence kits, the forensic community is using new ways to diminish this backlog, including more streamlined evidence processing and sample analysis. The goals for processing sexual assault samples include efficient recovery of sperm deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA), simplified sample processing, and the development of a profile eligible for forensic analysis. Cost and time can also be limiting factors. The Cotton Research Lab at Boston University has developed a novel method of differential extraction that combines separation of epithelial and sperm cell fractions, nuclease treatment to reduce female DNA carryover and a direct-cell lysis protocol. With the exception of a single centrifugation step, the entire protocol is conducted using a thermalcycler in the DNA extraction laboratory. Thus, the process is a Temperature Controlled Differential Extraction (TCDE), and has been effectively adapted for use with liquid, dried, and aged samples. The purpose of this research is to explore methods which further adapt the protocol for best use with forensic casework samples, namely vaginal swabs. Sexual assault evidence collection kits may contain a variety of items, and commonly include cotton swabs for the collection of fluids from intimate sources. To simulate casework-type samples, swabs were prepared with liquid epithelial cell preparations and various semen dilutions (ranging from 1:1 to 1:1000). Amendments were made to the TCDE protocol for best DNA recovery from a swab, and buffer changes were made to enhance compatibility with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplification kits widely utilized in forensic labs. Finally, post-coital swabs from female donors were analyzed using the TCDE protocol with modifications for forensic casework samples. Preliminary testing of casework-type swabs with protocol modifications showed high yields of DNA and successful separation of epithelial and spermatozoa fractions. The epithelial fraction, when yielding a mixed profile, demonstrated a clear major female contributor, and the spermatozoa fractions showed little to no female carryover, often exhibiting single source male profiles. The TCDE protocol with modifications for casework-type samples requires approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes of an analyst’s time, from the moment the swab is removed from its evidence packaging to an extraction ready for DNA quant and short tandem repeat (STR) amplification. The method provides increased DNA recovery, can be used with various amplification kits, and generate probative profiles and is time efficient. This robust and promising new method that has the potential to be automated and to contribute to the effort to reduce the backlog in the analysis of sexual assault evidence kits.

Over time, criminals have become more aware of the different types of trace evidence that are capable of being identified by forensic analysis. As a result, the frequency of actions taken to prevent the transmission of evidence, specifically biological fluids and subsequent DNA evidence, with the usage of condoms in the commission of sexual assaults, has increased. With the increased use of condoms, comes the increased awareness and probative nature of forensic analysis of the potentially unique chemical profiles residues may leave behind. This includes the identification of lubricant type and of any additives that may be present, such as spermicides, flavoring or topical anesthetics. The two predominate condom lubricants are polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyethylene glycol (PEG): PEG, a water-soluble lubricant, is soluble in polar solvents, such as methanol, while PDMS, a silicone-based lubricant, is reported to be soluble in non-polar solvents, such as hexane. A total of thirty condoms representing eight brands, each of a different type, were evaluated by Attenuated Total Reflectance - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). It has been reported that PDMS is the more prevalent condom lubricant compared to PEG; this trend was reflected in this small subset of products. Of the thirty condom lubricants analyzed, twenty-five were PDMS (approximately 83%), six PEG (approximately 7%), six glycerol (approximately 7%) and one “other” (approximately 3%). A direct extraction method was developed to isolate the lubricant from the condoms. Following the direct extraction of the condom lubricants from ten condoms of different brands and types containing PDMS, the extraction capabilities of three solvents: hexane, methanol and methylene chloride, in the presence of blood and saliva separately, were evaluated. Two different biological fluid/lubricant sample types were created: liquid suspensions of lubricant, biological fluid and solvent; and contrived casework samples consisting of a mixture of lubricant and biological fluid dried onto a cotton swab. Hexane was capable of isolating only the PDMS lubricant in the presence of biological fluids. In an effort to extract and identify the water-soluble lubricant PEG and any additional additives, two Trojan condoms marketed as containing the spermicide nonoxynol 9 (N9) and one Durex condom marketed as containing the topical anesthetic benzocaine were obtained. Methanol was used as the direct extraction solvent as much of the published literature has determined that additives, such as spermicides and topical anesthetics, are often found in combination with PEG, which must be extracted in a polar solvent. Although capable of extracting the lubricant PEG, PDMS, and the N9 from the condoms directly, the presence of biological fluids prevented the successful isolation of any condom lubricants or additives with the use of methanol. This extraction study established the solubility of PDMS in both methanol and hexane as well as the limited solubility of PEG in methanol. To identify a solvent capable of extracting both lubricant types as well as the spermicide additive N9 in the presence of biological fluids, the extraction capabilities of methylene chloride were assessed. In the literature, methylene chloride is often used to eliminate a two-step, or two-solvent, extraction for condom lubricants. The isolation of PDMS and N9 had mixed results when using methylene chloride as a solvent. PDMS and N9 were successfully isolated and identified in one of the Trojan brand spermicidal condoms, but not the other, most likely due to a difference in concentration of N9 in the two condoms. Only PEG could be isolated in the Durex condom marketed as containing benzocaine using methylene chloride. In the blood and saliva/lubricant contrived casework samples extracted with methylene chloride, the PDMS and PEG in the respective condoms were isolated but N9 was not. An evaluation of solvent extraction efficiency was made by comparing the ability of each solvent to isolate condom lubricant and additives in the presence of biological fluids. Methylene chloride was found to be the most effective solvent when compared to hexane and methanol for this purpose.

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Sexual assault is a pandemic issue that affects millions worldwide. In the U.S. it is estimated that one in five women and one in 38 men will be victims of rape or attempted rape at some point in their lifetime (Smith et al., 2018). Sexual assault has several significant long-term effects, including negatively impacting survivors’ psychological, emotional, physical, and interpersonal well-being. After a trauma from sexual victimization, survivors face the difficult process of making sense out of what happened, what to do about it, and whether to disclose the experience to others. Reporting, whether formally or informally, can be extremely difficult for survivors, and may even deepen the pain of the experience depending on the response to such a disclosure. However, studies indicate that help-seeking and disclosure are beneficial for the physical and emotional health of the survivor. In this era of social media, many survivors turn to supportive online communities to disclose and/or seek help following their sexual trauma. This study focused on online discussions of sexual violence as shared on reddit, a social media website centered on member discussion and content sharing. The purpose of this study was to examine subreddit forums on rape and sexual assault to identify what issues were shared and what questions were asked by sexual assault survivors following their victimization. Specifically, the research questions included, 1) What types of issues are survivors choosing to share online after assault? And 2) What questions do they ask, and support do they seek from the online community after an assault? Around 300 posts on rape and sexual assault subreddits were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methodology (Charmaz, 2014). Results suggest that reddit users posted to determine whether their experiences were abusive, to seek help, and to share their stories and seek a supportive witness from the online community.

Although the experience of sexual abuse is quite common among men, particularly among those in clinical populations, relatively little research has been done specifically with male survivors and the impact of abuse in their lives. More specifically, the impact of sexual abuse on male survivors' relationship dynamics has been underdeveloped in the research literature. Untapped online data can help illuminate these relationship dynamics, providing insight to clinicians for improved couple and family treatment. Through qualitative analysis of data from online discussion boards at MaleSurvivor.org, the present study examined the ways in which male survivors of sexual abuse described dynamics of their interpersonal relationships. Findings revealed impacts from the abuse on male survivors' relationships as well as impacts of their relationships on abuse recovery. Significant others of male survivors were influential, both positively and negatively, in regard to disclosure, companionship, conversation, modeling relationships, and help-seeking and recovery behaviors. Impacts of the abuse on relationships were reported in emotional, sexual, and relational domains. Further, results gave preliminary insight into how online forums themselves provide opportunities for support-seeking in online relationships and how male sexual abuse survivors approach these online relationships.

Sexual victimization is a pervasive mental and physical health issue with overarching implications for university campuses and victim service providers alike. While a large expanse of research exists on sexual violence and the factors associated with victimization, less is known about the potentially unique experiences faced by Black college women in particular. Utilizing data collected by the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study examines the prevalence of college sexual victimization, levels of social support for victims and non-victims, intimate partner sexual victimization (IPSV), and the predictability of self-esteem on sexual victimization. In addition, comparisons are made between Black college women and their White counterparts. After conducting multiple t-tests and logistic regression analyses, results indicated that Black college women were more likely to experience IPSV than White college women, and Black college women received less social support following sexual victimization than Black non-victims. These findings can help in establishing more efficient and accessible assistance for victims.

Thesis advisor: Alyssa Goldman / This study analyzes the narratives that emerged in the news media’s coverage of violent crimes against women during the #MeToo Movement. Additionally, it seeks to uncover if and how news media crime coverage differed based on the race of defendants. I conduct a content analysis of the news media coverage of the criminal cases State of Michigan v. Lawrence Gerard Nassar and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. William Henry Cosby, Jr. during the #MeToo Movement. I find that news media coverage of violent crimes against women typically exhibits an inverse relationship in which supportive portrayals of victims predict unsupportive portrayals of defendants, and vice versa. I also find some evidence to suggest that Black male defendants receive more lenient news media coverage than white male defendants. The results of this study demonstrate the power of social movements in influencing criminal justice outcomes and the news media’s role in shaping public opinion on criminal cases. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2021. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Sociology.

In much feminist literature, patriarchy has often been studied as a predictive variable for attitudes toward or acts of violence against women. However, rarely has patriarchy been examined as an outcome across studies. The current study works toward filling this gap by examining several individual-and neighborhood-level factors that might influence patriarchy. Specifically, this research seeks to determine if neighborhood-level attributes related to socioeconomic status, family composition, and demographic information affect patriarchal views after individual-level correlates of patriarchy were controlled. Findings suggest that factors at both the individual- and neighborhood levels, particularly familial characteristics and dynamics, do influence the endorsement of patriarchal views.