In Search of the Meaning of Suffering; Exploring the Lived Experiences of Sexual Assault Victims in Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Urban and Rural Sociology Research Group, Institutefor Social Research, Law and Social Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tabriz university of medical sciences, Tabriz, Iran

3 Department of Social Science, Faculty of Law and Social Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

From a sociological standpoint, violence can be viewed as a behavior that effectively manifests itself in the social arena. The violence phenomenon, particularly sexual violence, is multifaceted. On this basis, the origin and dimensions of its occurrence should be identified in many forms and issues. This study aimed to investigate the role of mothers in the sexual victimization of girls.
The current investigation is qualitative phenomenological in nature. Data were collected and analyzed in this study using in-depth, semi-structured interviews in a targeted manner to achieve theoretical saturation. The utmost sample diversity was considered, with 21 cases of women and girls who had experienced at least one rape.
Additionally, six categories have been identified in accordance with the responses that were obtained: 1. disruption and crisis in the character of mother, 2. mother and the reproduction of sexual and emotional damage, 3. passivity and subjugation (powerless mothers), 4. Maternal failure, 5. Maternal gender discrimination, and 6. Chaotic maternal relationships. The central category of this research is the cycle of maternal crisis, which encompasses the role disruption and traumas of reproduction.
The results indicate that these mothers played a significant role in the victimization of their daughters. In conclusion, the current investigation suggests that the crisis of motherhood is a self-perpetuating cycle.Mothers who have themselves been victims of violent structures for a variety of reasons have played a significant role in perpetuating trauma in the next generation. This cycle is the result of the interplay between structural factors (such as gender inequality), institutional factors (such as the inefficiency of support systems), and interpersonal factors (such as troubled familial relationships). Therefore, sexual violence is not a straightforward occurrence; rather, it is a process that is profoundly rooted in profound contexts.

Keywords

References

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Social Studies and Research in Iran
Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 56
September 2025
Pages 409-427

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