Document Type

Report

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Utah Women & Leadership Project White Paper

Volume

26

Publisher

Utah Women & Leadership Project

Publication Date

6-23-2026

First Page

1

Last Page

37

Abstract

Sexual violence in Utah is not an anomaly, a private tragedy, or the result of individual deviance. It is a patterned, predictable outcome of cultural norms, social systems, and power structures that shape how people understand gender, authority, and worth. Despite Utah’s reputation for strong families, close‑knit communities, and deep religious commitment, the state continues to report higher‑than‑national‑average rates of rape, child sexual abuse, and other forms of gender‑based harm. These realities demand a deeper understanding of why violence persists—and what can be done to prevent it.

This white paper synthesizes decades of national and international research, Utah‑specific data, and more than 20 conceptual models to create the Utah Sexual Violence Pyramid, a five‑tier framework that explains how sexual violence develops, escalates, and becomes normalized. The Pyramid illustrates that violence grows from the ground up: from foundational attitudes and beliefs, to verbal expressions, to harassment and coercion, to sexual assault, and ultimately to lethal violence. These behaviors exist on a continuum, and the lower tiers—often minimized or dismissed—create the cultural conditions in which more severe harm becomes possible.

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