Abigail Mitchell

Abigail Mitchell is a Sociology PhD Candidate at the University of Guelph, having graduated from their Master’s program in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy. Her Master's thesis research was on forensic pathologists’ decision-making in cases of sexual femicide, while her PhD research focuses on internet-facilitated child sexual abuse and cybergrooming. Abigail is a graduate student representative on the University of Guelph’s Joint Advisory Committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and a research assistant with the Centre for the Study of Social and Legal Responses to Violence. Abigail’s research interests more broadly include sexual femicide, domestic homicide, and LGBTQ2SIA+ communities.

Abigail's research interests are sexual and gender-based violence, primarily child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and femicide. Her PhD research is on meaning-making following cybergrooming and internet-facilitated child sexual abuse victimization.

COVER-CSA: Canadian Online Victimization Experiences and Reflections relating to Child Sexual Abuse

By surveying and interviewing women aged 18-35 across Canada who have experienced online child sexual abuse, this study will create a better understanding of how this online child sexual abuse impacts victims and what services they use to cope with their victimization.