I Didn't Know till It Happened to Me

The guiding question for this research was, "What contributes to Latina's understanding of sex and sexual violence?" The study was conducted through one-to-one interviews with Hispanic/Latinas living in Salt Lake County, Utah, from ages 21 to 34. Seven self-identifying Latinas participated in thirty-minute to one-hour interviews focused on understanding the cultural context in which they experienced sex education in the home and at school. Questions were aimed at having a deeper understanding of barriers Latinas' experience in accessing sexual assault services and where gaps in knowledge on sex education can be decreased. This information is vital to increasing Utah's culturally responsive and survivor-centric sexual assault services. This research also highlighted where service providers and educators can improve sex and sexual violence education. The Rape Recovery Center was the community partner assisting in ensuring research aligned with supporting survivors in a trauma-informed, survivor centric and culturally sensitive manner. Findings indicated a lack of sex education, mental health support, and belief in sexual assault victims in most participants' homes. All participants described schools using images of STDs to deter and convince them of the importance in abstinence-only. Three of seven participants could name a service provider for sexual assault victims; the rest could not name one and were unaware of the services available. Participants suggested how to improve Latine participation in sexual assault services and possible methods to improve sex education. This research increases awareness surrounding the cultural barriers the Latine population face in a majority white state and shows there is a need for further study.