| dc.description.abstract | Stigma against women in cases of sexual violence is a significant social issue that deeply affects the lives of survivors, yet it remains underexplored in academic discourse, particularly from social and cultural perspectives. This study aims to uncover and describe the lived experiences of survivors in confronting stigma and rejection imposed by society. Employing a qualitative approach, the research integrates ethnography, autoethnography, and life history methods. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis. The narrative is based on the author's personal experience as well as testimonies from informants who are survivors of sexual violence.
The findings reveal that stigma manifests in two primary forms: external stigma and internal stigma. External stigma includes judgment, rejection, and discrimination from society, family, and the broader social environment. Internal stigma involves feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and low self-worth experienced by survivors. These forms of stigma lead survivors to withdraw, limit social interactions, and lose self-confidence. Moreover, society often places the burden of “recovery” entirely on the survivor, expecting them to return to a state of “normalcy” in order to be socially accepted. In reality, broader social transformation is needed to enable survivors to heal without the pressure of conforming.
The study concludes that stigma not only delays the recovery process but also silences survivors through cycles of guilt and forced silence. It also identifies various forms of resistance enacted by survivors, such as creating safe spaces, rejecting blame narratives, and fostering solidarity. These findings highlight the urgent need for social change through education, normative reconstruction, and the strengthening of support systems to build inclusive and just recovery environments. | en_US |
