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Welcome to the Sexual Assault and Sexual Health Lab, directed by Dr. Kathryn Holland. In the lab, we study a variety of issues related to sexual assault and sexual health--and especially the experiences of those who are marginalized by their gender and/or sexual identities (e.g., women, LGBTQ+ communities)--with the goal of understanding and changing oppressive social institutions and systems (e.g., to be more equitable and inclusive).
The SASH Lab takes a broad approach to understanding sexual assault and sexual health: examining a wide range of sexual assault experiences (e.g., unwanted touching, verbal coercion) and dimensions of sexual health (e.g., sexual communication, satisfaction) in addition to more conventional conceptualizations of “sexual assault” (e.g., rape as defined by law) and “sexual health” (e.g., function). Some current research interests/areas include:
- The implementation and effectiveness of formal support systems for survivors of sexual assault and harassment (e.g., reporting options, resources) under civil rights/anti-discrimination laws and policies for sex/gender equity (e.g., Title IX in schools, Title VII in workplaces)
- Service barriers for sexual assault survivors and the consequences of service barriers for mental health and recovery following trauma.
- The causes and outcomes of negative and positive experiences within interpersonal interactions and relationships--such as gendered aggression (e.g., sexual harassment), prosocial action (e.g., bystander intervention), minority stress (e.g., heterosexism), informal support providers' reactions to sexual violence disclosures, and sense of community.
- The connections between social norms/stereotypes around gender and sexuality (e.g., women are passive and men are aggressive, bisexual women are promiscuous, stigmatization of women's bodies) and sexual health for women and trans/gender expansive individuals.
If you are interested in applying to work in the lab* and have questions, please email: kholland4@unl.edu
*I will not be accepting a new PhD student for fall 2027