Biggest study ever finds more than half of Australian women in 20s have suffered sexual violence

The number of Australian women who have suffered sexual violence is much greater than experts thought. Warning: Graphic

More than half of Australian women in their 20s have experienced sexual violence, much higher than previously thought.

The shocking findings are from a study of more than 57,000 Australian women, the largest of its kind ever conducted.

While women in their 20s are most likely to have suffered sexual violence than any other age group, a third of women in their forties and more than a quarter aged 68 to 73 have also been victims.

Funded by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), CEO Padma Raman said the findings are “shocking”.

“The data shows 51 per cent of women in their 20s have experienced sexual violence – those are incredible rates,” Ms Rama said.

Padma Raman, CEO of ANROWS. Picture: supplied

“This longitude study also reveals the long term impacts of that across a woman’s life.

“It found these women are more likely to have poorer health across the generations and have greater financial stress.”

Researchers from the University of Newcastle analysed the data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH).

They found those affected are between 30 and 45 per cent more likely to have high levels of financial stress and also report worse physical and mental health, including chronic conditions and mental health issues.

They also found that women in their 20s and 40s who are sexually abused as a child are twice as likely to have experienced sexual violence, domestic violence and physical violence as an adult.

More than half of women in their 20s have suffered from sexual violence. Picture: istock

Peta Former, a senior analyst on the study, said the “study disrupts some serious misconceptions about sexual violence”.

“This research shows that sexual violence isn’t a rarity that largely happens to

young women,” she said.

“Unfortunately, it’s all too common. It happens across a woman’s lifetime and sometimes starts young, in childhood.

“The findings connecting sexual violence in childhood to re-victimisation in adulthood need to be taken especially seriously.”

Ms Raman said she hopes the results will “inform urgent and practical change”.

She said the data shows policymakers that sexual violence is a health risk and that there needs to be better help and support for those who suffered sexual abuse at a young age to prevent it happening again.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth. Picture Dean Martin/Advertiser

She also called for a national definition of sexual violence. She said the term was quite broad in this study and included any unwanted sexual activity.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth described the rates of women experiencing sexual violence and the long-term impacts of their abuse as concerning.

“We know family, domestic and sexual violence against women and children in Australia is at epidemic proportions and the Albanese Labor Government is committed to acting on this,” Ms Rishworth said.

She said the next National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children will be released by October and will hopefully help to turn these figures around.

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Originally published as Biggest study ever finds more than half of Australian women in 20s have suffered sexual violence