When the Personal Becomes Political: Sexual Assault and Women’s Political Engagement

Canonical feminist texts describe how some women have found political meaning in their identity as survivors of sexual assault. Drawing on qualitative interviews, we develop a theory about whether, how, and for whom sexual violence compels women’s political participation. For some women, sexual violence shatters victims’ core beliefs in ways that facilitate personal growth and resilience. This process is often facilitated by solidaristic ties with other survivors through which women crystallize their interests around the right to be free from violence and their demands for state responsiveness. We test implications of our theory with an original survey of American women. Women who report having experienced sexual assault or rape report higher levels of political participation than other women. This association is stronger among Democratic women and those with higher socioeconomic status and weaker among Black women. Although reactions vary, participating in politics allows some survivors to turn their pain into purpose.