Browsing by Author "Ralston, Kevin M."
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Item Male survivors' stories of sexual victimization: stigma management and a survivor identity(University of Delaware, 2015) Ralston, Kevin M.This dissertation examines how men make sense of their experiences with sexual victimization. Through 19 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with men who experienced sexual victimization since turning 18-years-old, this research provides insight into how the men experience, understand, and process their sexual victimization. The participants underwent a process of self-stigmatization, which caused them to experience psychological, emotional, and behavioral problems. In order for the participants to proceed through the recovery process, they had to actively transform into viewing themselves as a survivor. For the participants, this process meant revising their masculinity so they could embody a new identity that did not stigmatize their experience. The final aspect of the recovery process was transforming from a victim to a survivor, and a new positive identity. Throughout this dissertation, parallels between the experience for the participants is discussed in relation to current literature and the experience for women. The conclusion suggests the development of an alternate narrative of men who experience sexual victimization that does not include gender stereotypes. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are also discussed.Item The role of race and caretaker substance abuse in child protective services responses to child abuse reports(University of Delaware, 2009) Ralston, Kevin M.It is believed that approximately 30% of the child maltreatment cases involve a caretaker with a substance abuse problem. Previous literature has established a link between caretaker substance abuse and child maltreatment. However, little research has examined how caretaker substance abuse and race together influence the Child Protective Services investigation of child abuse reports. A series of regression analyses examine African American/White disparities at three distinct points in the investigation process: length of the investigation, substantiation, and disposition. The results do not indicate a racial disparity exists at any point in the investigation. Instead, other factors stereotypically associated with residents of poor inner-city communities, have the largest influence on the decision, especially in cases where a decision includes out-of-home placement or criminal justice involvement. This could indicate a medicalization of caretaker substance abuse in the cases that do not involve serious sanctions, while those cases deemed more serious, underlying stereotypes take over and influence the disposition of an investigation.