Evidence That Nine Autistic Women Out of Ten Have Been Victims of Sexual Violence
Cazalis, Reyes, Leduc and Gourion (2022)
Content Warning: Sexual Violence
Sexual violence affects about 30% of women in the general population. This research explores the prevalence of sexual abuse, Autistic traits and a range of symptoms. 225 women participants from the French Autistic community responded using an online survey. The authors assessed victimization through an open question and specific questionnaire, based on the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization. The results showed that two thirds of the victims were very young when they were first assaulted, with 135 being under 18. 75% of participants reported several aggressions. Young victims were also at higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. For 75%, reporting the incident(s) did not lead to supportive action. The authors discuss that their finding indicate a very large number of sexual assaults among Autistic women. The article finishes by discussing current and potential methods to reduce victimization of Autistic women and girls in light of these findings.
