Rape Myths

1994 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Lonsway ◽  
Louise F. Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Aggression ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Immense Potential ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Theories of sexual aggression and victimization have increasingly emphasized the role of rape myths in the perpetuation of sexual assault. Rape myths are attitudes and generally false beliefs about rape that are widely and persistently held, and that serve to deny and justify male sexual aggression against women. Acceptance of such myths has been assessed with a number of measures, and investigators have examined its relationship with numerous variables and interventions. Although there has been extensive research in this area, definitions, terminology, and measures of rape myth acceptance (RMA) continue to lack adequate theoretical and psychometric precision. Despite such criticisms, we emphasize that the significance of this type of research cannot be overstated because it has immense potential for the understanding of sexual assault. The present article offers a theory-based definition of rape myths, reviews and critiques the literature on rape myth acceptance, and suggests directions for future research. In particular we argue that such work must include the development and application of improved measures, with more concern for the theoretical and methodological issues unique to this field.

Rape myth acceptance in Lebanon: The role of sexual assault experience/familiarity, sexism, honor beliefs, and the Dark Triad

2021 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 110403
Author(s):  
Maria-Jose Sanchez-Ruiz ◽  
Perla El Ahmad ◽  
Marilyn Karam ◽  
Marie Adele Saliba
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Dark Triad ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Religious Affiliation, Religiosity, Gender, and Rape Myth Acceptance: Feminist Theory and Rape Culture

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 1219-1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Barnett ◽  
Kylie B. Sligar ◽  
Chiachih D. C. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Feminist Theory ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Political Ideology ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Rape myths are false beliefs about rape, rape victims, and rapists, often prejudicial and stereotypical. Guided by feminist theory and available empirical research, this study aimed to examine the influences of gender, religious affiliation, and religiosity on rape myth acceptance of U.S. emerging adults. A sample of 653 university students aged 18 to 30 years were recruited from a large public university in the southern United States to complete the research questionnaires. Results indicated that individuals who identified as Roman Catholic or Protestant endorsed higher levels of rape myth acceptance than their atheist or agnostic counterparts. Men were found more likely to ascribe to rape myths than their female counterparts. Religiosity was positively associated with rape myth acceptance, even after controlling the effect of conservative political ideology. No significant interaction was found between gender and religious affiliation or gender and religiosity. Limitations, future research directions, and implications of the findings are discussed from the perspective of feminist theory.

Blame is in the eye of the beholder: Assessing the Role of Ambivalent Sexism on Subtle Rape Myth Acceptance

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-295
Author(s):  
Kallia Manoussaki ◽  
Valentina Gosetti
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Ambivalent Sexism ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Hostile Sexism ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Sexist Attitudes ◽  
Acceptance Scale ◽  
Myth Acceptance

The aim of the present study was to determine whether ambivalent sexism predicts subtle rape myth acceptance. Respondents comprised of 211 university students, who completed the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (Glick & Fiske, 1996) and the updated version of the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance scale (McMahon & Farmer, 2011). Results indicated that while benevolent sexism significantly predicted acceptance of subtle rape myths, hostile sexism did not. Additionally, male participants reported more ambivalent sexism and subtle rape myth acceptance than females. These findings add to the literature investigating gender inequality and rape mythology by giving a first account on the link between subtle rape myths and ambivalent sexist attitudes.

National Comparisons of Rape Myth Acceptance Predictors Between Nonathletes and Athletes From Multi-Institutional Settings

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 543-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Navarro ◽  
Richard Tewksbury
Keyword(s):  
Rape Myths ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Acceptance Scale ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Athletes are cited as common perpetrators of sexual victimization and are at greater risk of becoming offenders compared with nonathletes. Demographic, lifestyle, and social characteristics of 624 nonathletes and 101 athletes from 21 U.S. Division I postsecondary educational institutions were assessed, with the updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance scale gauging endorsement of rape myths. Results indicate that athletes and nonathletes were similar in the degree of rape myth acceptance, with athletes reporting stronger agreement with rape myths than nonathletes did. Predictors of rape myth acceptance among nonathletes are multidimensional. In contrast, nondemographic characteristics like Greek membership, the number of alcoholic beverages consumed, and knowing a sexual assault victim predict rape myth acceptance for athletes, with gender not predicting rape myth acceptance nor different between genders of athletes. Policy implications and future research are discussed.

Labeling Sexual Victimization Experiences: The Role of Sexism, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Tolerance for Sexual Harassment

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 332-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly L. LeMaire ◽  
Debra L. Oswald ◽  
Brenda L. Russell
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Hostile Sexism ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Sexist Attitudes ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Myth Acceptance

This study investigated whether attitudinal variables, such as benevolent and hostile sexism toward men and women, female rape myth acceptance, and tolerance of sexual harassment are related to women labeling their sexual assault experiences as rape. In a sample of 276 female college students, 71 (25.7%) reported at least one experience that met the operational definition of rape, although only 46.5% of those women labeled the experience “rape.” Benevolent sexism, tolerance of sexual harassment, and rape myth acceptance, but not hostile sexism, significantly predicted labeling of previous sexual assault experiences by the victims. Specifically, those with more benevolent sexist attitudes toward both men and women, greater rape myth acceptance, and more tolerant attitudes of sexual harassment were less likely to label their past sexual assault experience as rape. The results are discussed for their clinical and theoretical implications.

scholarly journals Assessing Rape Myth Acceptance: A Contribution to Italian Validation of the Measure for Assessing Subtle Rape Myth (SRMA-IT)

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107906322110281
Author(s):  
Mara Martini ◽  
Stefano Tartaglia ◽  
Norma De Piccoli
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Italian Validation ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Initial Hypothesis ◽  
Myth Acceptance

The study aimed to validate the Italian version of the Measure for Assessing Subtle Rape Myths developed by McMahon and Farmer. A sample of 3,915 university students (70.8% female) completed the questionnaire. After an exploratory factor analysis, a confirmatory factor analysis tested the resulting four-factor structure of the Italian Subtle Rape Myth Acceptance (SRMA-IT) Scale (“She Asked for It”; “He Didn’t Mean To”; “It Wasn’t Really Rape”; and “She Lied”), consistent with McMahon and Farmer’s initial hypothesis. The Italian validation did not include items related to intoxication. Internal consistency of the subscales was good (α from .78 to .90). Convergent validity between all subscales and System Justification–Gender was detected: A strong relationship was observed ( r is from .19 to .33; p < .001). The independent-sample T test then showed that women accepted all four rape myths significantly less than men: Effect size is more than moderate for the myth “She Asked for It” (Cohen’s d = .60) and between small and moderate for the other myths ( d is from .35 to .42). Acceptance of rape myths is often associated with higher men’s proclivity to rape and with tendency to raped women’s double victimization (they can be not believed or blamed when they disclose the rape). Having a validated instrument to measure rape myth acceptance can enhance empirical research on this topic and help to develop interventions of prevention both for men in the society and for the first responders to disclosures, also sustaining a culture of respect and of contrast to violence.

Development and Validation of the Korean Rape Myth Acceptance Scale

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Euna Oh ◽  
Helen Neville
Keyword(s):  
Sex Role ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
Acceptance Scale ◽  
Attitudes Toward Sex ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Myth Acceptance

The purpose of this investigation was to develop a culturally relevant rape myth acceptance scale for Koreans. Three studies on the Korean Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (KRMAS) with approximately 1,000 observations provide initial validity and reliability. Specifically, results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses support four subscales: myths about rape survivors, rape perpetrators, the impact of rape, and rape as spontaneous. The KRMAS was validated with student and community samples and a factorial invariance analysis provided evidence for the factor structure across men and women. The KRMAS total score was positively related to the Attitudes Toward Sex Role Scale–Korean and the Acceptance of Violence Scale, indicating that greater endorsement of rape myth acceptance was related to greater levels of attitudes toward traditional sex roles and violence against women. Implications of the findings and future research directions are provided.

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