ABSTRACT
Exploratory research on the Caribbean island of St Lucia suggested that underreporting of sexual assault is occurring in combination with a lack of resources for sexual assault survivors on the island. This study assesses the prevalence of sexual assault and rape myth acceptance in St Lucia. Using a convenience sample across four socio-economically different neighbourhoods, a survey was disseminated and collected door-to-door. We found that across gender the rate of reported sexual assault was higher than official statistics would implicate. Furthermore, women were more likely than men to report assault, and residents of working class neighbourhoods were more likely to have reported a sexual assault than residents of middle- and upper-class neighbourhoods. Rape myths acceptance was also higher for men than for women. With sexual assault occurring at a higher rate than assumed, more research and resources need to examine and address this social problem in St Lucia.
