Access to sexual violence services for underserved communities in Southern Alberta

Abstract

This thesis examines accessibility to sexual violence services for 2SLGBTQIA+ and faith affirmed communities in Southern Alberta. My central research question was: what is the current state of accessibility to sexual violence services for underserved communities in Lethbridge and surrounding rural communities? The limited scope of inclusion within the scholarship I reviewed meant I was unable to explore a wide range of diverse experiences and how different facets of identity may contribute to increased vulnerability of experiencing sexual violence. Using a combination of praxis and embodiment as methodologies, I conducted eight individual interviews with participants who self- identified as either 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or faith affirmed. Following the completion of each interview, as well as the transcribing process, I deployed intersectional and queer theoretical frameworks to find common themes throughout each of my conversations with participants. I found common themes relating to the normalization of sexual violence, through sites of indoctrination and structures of inequity. I also found a common theme surrounding access and affirming sexual violence services in Southern Alberta. To demonstrate the commonalities identified, experiences and/or examples are pulled directly from my conversations with participants. These experiences and examples are then used to detail pathways forward.