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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). Some current research interests/areas include:
- The implementation and effectiveness of formal support systems for survivors of sexual assault and harassment, including reporting options and 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.
- 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