The Silent Spectrum of Sexual Trauma: A Multi-Theoretical Study of Sensemaking, Privacy, and Acknowledgement in Non-Violent Sexual Violations

Abstract

This dissertation explores how individuals who have experienced non-violent sexual trauma (NVST), including experiences such as coercion, harassment, discrimination based on sexual and/or gender identity, and non-consensual sharing of intimate materials, make sense of what happened to them, communicate about their experiences, and decide whether and how to seek support. While dominant cultural and scholarly narratives of sexual trauma emphasize physical force and visible injury, non-violent experiences are both highly prevalent and deeply impactful, yet often remain ambiguous, under-recognized, and under-supported (Garrido-Macías et al., 2020; Kennedy & Prock, 2018; Pugh & Becker, 2018). This ambiguity creates challenges for survivors in labeling their experiences, validating their reactions, and navigating disclosure and support-seeking processes (Brown-Peterside et al., 2002). To address these gaps, this study employs a qualitative, semi-structured interview design with 20 individuals who reported negative sexual experiences. Guided by Sensemaking Theory (Weick et al., 2005), Communication Privacy Management (CPM) Theory (Petronio, 2002), and the concept of rape acknowledgement (Koss, 1985), the study examines how survivors interpret their experiences, manage privacy and disclosure, and engage with formal and informal support systems. Findings reveal that sensemaking is an ongoing and dynamic process shaped by access to information, prior representations of sexual trauma, relational support, and broader cultural narratives. Participants frequently described difficulty identifying their experiences as “serious enough” to be considered trauma, particularly when their experiences did not align with dominant rape scripts. Sexual trauma acknowledgement emerged as a critical turning point, often associated with increased distress in the short term but more adaptive long-term outcomes, including improved self-understanding, validation, and support-seeking behaviors. Disclosure and support-seeking were similarly shaped by perceptions of risk, anticipated responses, and prior experiences observing or receiving support. Participants often relied on informal sources of information and validation, though therapy was also identified as a formal source that served as a key site for reframing experiences. Recommendations for improving support emphasized accessible, trauma-informed education, interpersonal validation, and the normalization of conversations about sexual experiences, rather than solely large-scale systemic change. This study contributes to communication scholarship by integrating multiple theoretical frameworks to examine NVST as a complex, socially constructed phenomenon. It also offers applied implications for nonprofits, educators, practitioners, and more general directions for engaging with individuals and communities around us, highlighting the need for more inclusive language, accessible resources, and relational approaches to supporting survivors. Ultimately, this research underscores the importance of recognizing and validating diverse experiences of sexual trauma to reduce barriers to support and promote more equitable and effective care.