Identifying an epistemology of hope through researching woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault

Abstract

This auto/biographical account details my experience of generating what I would term an “Epistemology of Hope” through researching the traumatic experience of woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault. I focus on the recommendations (i.e., what we would hope to have happen) of myself and my respondents, as an outcome of engaging in my doctoral research. I suggest that woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault victim/survivors must be regarded as the owners and creators of knowledge regarding how best to respond to their needs and to the very reality of woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault.