Suffering in Silence

Previous research has examined sexual violence among pregnant girls primarily from the perspective of adults or by using quantitative data. In this article, we refer to survivors’ narratives to illustrate how systemic structures and cultural frameworks perpetuate sexual violence that condemns girls to suffer in silence. The data was collected using photo voice and the life history interviews with young pregnant women and girls. Our findings show that weak child protection structures and, at the intersection of male dominance, adultism, and economic precarity, cultural norms that prioritize family honour over reproductive justice perpetuate sexual violence against girls.