A Shattered Dream: Women International Students’ Experiences of Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence in Australia

This study explores experiences and impacts of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV) for women international students. IPV/SV are common experiences for women in tertiary education, including for international students. Although researchers have identified that IPV/SV has traumatic impacts for domestic students, little is known about the experiences and consequences of IPV/SV for international students. To address this gap, this study used an intersectional feminist lens to explore the lived experiences of IPV/SV of women international students in Australia. In-depth interviews with 26 international students subjected to IPV/SV in Australia, were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were developed: Confusion and vulnerability: “Feeling like a ‘deer in headlights’”; Withdrawal and isolation: “Going into ‘defensive mode’”; and Loss of self and direction: “Not knowing ‘who I am anymore’”. The findings revealed IPV/SV had profound impacts on mental health, including intense feelings of vulnerability as women international students perceived themselves to be prime targets for predatory men. This prompted them to withdraw from social and educational opportunities, causing severe isolation that was amplified by the barriers they faced in reporting the abuse and a reluctance to disclose it to family and friends back home. Findings demonstrate that IPV/SV can be devastating for women international students, shattering not only their dreams and aspirations but also their sense of identity. The research highlights a need for tailored support services and resources, along with responses that address the social and structural drivers of IPV/SV against women international students.