Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners’ Perceptions of the Influence of Race and Ethnicity on Victims’ Responses to Rape

Abstract

Race/ethnicity plays a role in the perception of rape and experiences of victims. This research explores sexual assault nurse examiners’ (SANE) perceptions of the influence of victims’ race/ethnicity on their responses in hospitals to rape, and whether SANEs have different ways of addressing the needs of victims of color when treating them. Data from interviews with 40 SANEs indicate that the majority believe victims of color respond to rape differently or face different issues than White victims do, and 30% of SANEs believed race/ethnicity with other factors influence responses. Half of SANEs interviewed have different ways of responding to victims based on race/ethnicity.