Titled “The rape kit through the lens of socio-technical imaginaries: an analysis of its role in the production of evidence of sexual assault in Quebec,” the project addresses a crucial yet still largely underexplored issue: how evidence is gathered in cases of sexual violence and the impact this process has on complainants.
At the heart of the study is the forensic rape kit, a technology made available to survivors of sexual assault. While often presented as a neutral tool for collecting physical evidence, the kit plays a central role in shaping how sexual assault cases are documented, interpreted, and assessed within the judicial system. Professor Diotte’s research will examine how the use of this technology influences legal decision-making and how it affects the experiences and trajectories of victims.
This research is particularly timely in the Quebec context. The recent creation of a specialized court for sexual assault and domestic violence—one of the key recommendations of the Rebâtir la confiance report (2021)—underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which evidence is produced and evaluated in these cases. By analyzing the rape kit through the lens of socio-technical imaginaries, the project seeks to shed light on the assumptions, expectations, and power relations embedded in forensic practices.
Through this work, Professor Diotte aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to improve the justice system’s response to sexual violence, with a particular focus on centering the experiences of victims and questioning how technologies shape legal outcomes.
The Faculty of Social Sciences is proud to support this important research, which advances critical reflection on justice, technology, and social responses to sexual assault.