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Abstract: 

Most sexual violence against adult women is perpetrated by someone they know; frequently a male intimate partner (or ex-partner). In high-income countries such as the U.S. and Australia, national surveys suggest that at least 10% of women may have experienced some form of sexual violence in the context of a relationship, although the true prevalence is likely to be far higher given the propensity for under-reporting. However, despite its pervasiveness, intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) remains hidden, shrouded in silence and stigma. It is under-researched in academia and under-recognized in policy and practice. This article draws on recent qualitative research with 38 women victim-survivors of IPSV in Australia. It sheds light on how IPSV and psychological abuse can co-occur in relationships; examines the “emotion work” that women undertake in relationships where sexual violence is occurring, and how this can be a barrier to seeking support; and outlines the “invisible impacts” of IPSV on women’s mental health and wellbeing. The aim is to highlight the complexity of IPSV and foreground the ways that its context and dynamics set it apart from other forms of violence in relationships.

Keywords: IPSV and Psychological Abuse; Invisible Impacts of IPSV on Well-Being

Affiliations:  1: University of Melbourne, Australia.