Lakehead University researcher studies "unfounded" sexual assault reports

Dr. Jodie Murphy-Oikonen, assistant professor in the School of Social Work at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, recently received a grant from Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for a meaningful research project.
 
Dr. Murphy-Oikonen’s research will explore unfounded sexual assault reports to police.
 
For the research project titled “Unfounded Sexual Assault: Women's Experiences,” Murphy-Oikonen will receive $57,090.
 
Joining her in the research, are two Lakehead University colleagues, Dr. Lori Chambers from Women’s Studies and Dr. Karen McQueen from the School of Nursing. The research team will spend two years conducting interviews with survivors to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of women who have had their sexual assault deemed unfounded by police.
 
In a news release, a Lakehead University spokesperson says Dr. Murphy-Oikonen’s work represents a first step towards filling knowledge gaps regarding women’s perceptions of their sexual assault and their experience when their reports are disbelieved by the institutions designed to protect them.
 
WTIP’s Rhonda Silence reached out to Dr. Murphy-Oikonen to learn more about this research.