WORKING class women who have experienced sexual violence are being sought by Glasgow researchers for a groundbreaking study.

A team from Glasgow Caledonian University, led by Dr Karen Lorimer, is hoping results will “give women a voice”.

Dr Lorimer, reader in social science and health in the SHLS Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Research Group, said she understands “the challenges and inequalities women experience".

She said: “I grew up in Shettleston and it’s important to me that the voices of working-class women in areas of high deprivation are heard.

“This is the first study of its kind looking specifically at class in relation to sexual violence in Scotland.”

Dr Lorimer is working with Professor Lesley McMillan, from the Glasgow School for Business and Society, on the research project, which has been funded by a British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant.

She added: “We need around 20 women to come forward and speak to us about whether they have told anyone about their experience. If so, who did they tell, and what was the nature of the response to support their mental and physical health?

“That would be an important story to tell. Equally, we want to know if they faced any challenges. Often women in working-class communities don’t have the money to seek private health care so there are a lot of inequalities involved. We are interested in how able they feel to turn to various resources for support.

“Unfortunately, it can be easy for people to dismiss one person’s experience. We hear that time and time again, but, in this study, we hope to have multiple experiences that we can collate and piece together to tell that story.”

Dr Lorimer is keen to reassure women taking part that results will lead to recommendations.

“We have good connections with the NHS, Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, GP practices and women’s organisations,” she said.

“Unfortunately, we can’t change anything that has happened to women who speak to us, but in telling their experiences and shining a light on anything that might not otherwise be heard, we hope that it will help others in the future.

“As a team, we will create recommendations from this research and we will push to have them listened to.

“It’s a lot to ask survivors to tell us about their experiences so we absolutely want to make sure their story is heard and changes do happen. Everything people tell us is confidential.”

A workshop will take place at the end of the study, added Dr Lorimer.

“We will invite survivors along if they feel they are able, bringing different organisations to tell them about the findings and engage them in a meaningful discussion,” she said.

Participants will complete a one hour Zoom or face-to-face discussion with a female interviewer, and all interviews are confidential.  

For more information, call Dr Lorimer on 0141 331 8860 or email info@disclosingstories.com.