Sexual Assault Supportive Attitudes: Rape Myth Acceptance and Token Resistance in Greek and Non-Greek College Students From Two University Samples in the United States

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (22) ◽  
pp. 3502-3530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasha N. Canan ◽  
Kristen N. Jozkowski ◽  
Brandon L. Crawford
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Short Form ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Token Resistance ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Colleges are rape-prone cultures with high rates of sexual victimization. Fraternities’ and sororities’ relationships with sexual assault are consistent themes in literature focusing on sexual violence among college students. Previous research suggests that fraternity men are more likely to endorse rape-supportive attitudes compared with non-Greek men or sorority women. The present study examines rape-supportive attitudes as well as rape and sexual assault victimization in college students with a focus on gender and Greek-life (i.e., involvement in fraternities or sororities) status variables. College students ( N = 1,002) completed a survey including the Token Resistance to Sex Scale (TRSS), Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale–Short Form (IRMA-S), and items related to past experiences of nonconsensual sex. Two regression models tested predictors of token resistance and rape myth acceptance. Chi-square analyses tested between-group differences of experiencing rape and sexual assault. Gender ( p < .001), Greek status ( p < .001), and race/ethnicity ( p < .001) were predictors for TRSS scores. For IRMA scores, gender ( p < .001), Greek status ( p < .001), and race/ethnicity variables ( p < .001) were also significant. Interaction terms revealed that Greek men had higher token resistance and rape myth acceptance than any other group. Chi-square analyses indicate women more frequently report experiences of rape (χ2 = 25.57, df = 1, p < .001) and sexual assault (χ2 = 31.75, df = 1, p < .001). Men report high rates (40.8%) of experiencing sexual assault “because refusing was useless.” No differences of victimization rates were found between Greeks and non-Greeks. Gender and sexual scripting theory can help explain gender differences in attitudes and experiences. Greater endorsement of rape myth acceptance and token resistance by Greeks, who influence college party culture, could be contributing to a culture conducive to rape. Findings demonstrate a continued need for interventions focused on shifting sociocultural dynamics (e.g., traditional roles and sexual scripting) on college campuses.

scholarly journals Rape Myth Acceptance Among College Students in the United States, Japan, and India

SAGE Open ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824401667501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Stephens ◽  
Akiko Kamimura ◽  
Niwako Yamawaki ◽  
Haimanti Bhattacharya ◽  
Wenjing Mo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
College Students ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Rape myth acceptance is an important determinant of sexual assault behaviors. This study explored country and gender differences in rape myth acceptance among undergraduate students in the United States, Japan, and India. Male and female college students ( N = 637) in these three countries participated in a self-administered survey in the fall of 2012 (the United States, n = 206; Japan, n = 215; and India, n = 216). The order of the countries arranged in increasing order of likelihood of disbelieving rape claim was as follows: the United States, Japan, and India. U.S. and Japanese students were less likely to disbelieve rape claims ( p < .01) while U.S. students also were less likely to believe that victims are responsible for rape ( p < .01). Overall, female participants were less likely to believe in the rape myth acceptance, disbelief of rape claim and victims are responsible for rape ( p < .05). Acceptance of rape myth also varied by whether a participant knew about an organization or who do not believe they would seek help for sexual assault. Non-help seeking is associated with rape myth acceptance. This study, which used the same survey and data collection methods, provides comparative information on rape myth acceptance among college students in the United States, Japan, and India, which is not otherwise available, and contributes to providing fundamental knowledge to develop country-specific prevention programs.

Police Interviews of Sexual Assault Reporters: Do Attitudes Matter?

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Rich ◽  
Patrick Seffrin
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Stress Reactions ◽  
Police Interviews ◽  
Criminal Justice Professionals ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Sexual assault is underreported in the United States. Survivors are often reluctant to make police reports for various reasons; one is fear of revictimization by criminal justice professionals. Conversely, police officers often lack skills for interviewing crime victims. Posttraumatic stress reactions among victims can exacerbate the problem. Although some victims prefer female interviewers, it is not known whether they are more skilled. A sample of 429 police officers completed a written survey testing their rape myth acceptance and knowledge of how to interview rape reporters. A significant relationship between rape myth acceptance and interviewing skill was discovered. Although officer gender was related to interviewing skill, the effect was mediated by rape myth acceptance. Specific officer behaviors related to high rape myth acceptance were identified. Implications for selection of police to conduct victim interviews were discussed.

Rape Myth Acceptance, Efficacy, and Heterosexual Scripts in Men’s Magazines: Factors Associated With Intentions to Sexually Coerce or Intervene

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1703-1733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey J. T. Hust ◽  
Kathleen Boyce Rodgers ◽  
Stephanie Ebreo ◽  
Whitney Stefani
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Coercion ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Men's Magazines ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Sexual coercion has gained researchers’ attention as an underreported form of sexual abuse or harm. The percentage of male and female college students who reported engaging in sexual coercion was as high as 82% for verbally coercive behaviors over the course of a year. Guided by heterosexual scripting theory and the integrated model of behavioral prediction, we examine potential factors associated with college students’ intentions to sexually coerce or to intervene when friends plan to sexually coerce (bystander intention). Factors included young college students’ beliefs about rape myth acceptance, perceived norms, efficacy to reduce sexual-assault risk, and exposure to men’s and women’s magazines. As predicted, results indicate rape myth acceptance was positively associated with intentions to sexually coerce, and negatively associated with bystander intentions to intervene. Students’ efficacy to reduce sexual-assault risk was negatively associated with intentions to sexually coerce, and positively associated with bystander intentions. Exposure to the heterosexual scripts in men’s magazines, which connect sexual prowess to masculinity, was associated with intentions to sexually coerce. Exposure to magazines was not associated with bystander intentions to intervene. Overall, an understanding of the independent contribution of these factors toward sexual coercion and intervention has implications for dating violence prevention programming.

scholarly journals Correlates of Disclosure Cessation After Sexual Assault

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily R. Dworkin ◽  
Nicole Allen
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Sexual Experiences ◽  
Unwanted Sexual Experiences ◽  
History Of ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Contacts with responders after sexual assault may influence further disclosure, but this possibility has not been explored empirically. Thus, this study investigates associations between survivors’ contacts with responders and their decisions to discontinue disclosure. Fifty-four college students with a history of unwanted sexual experiences described 94 ordered contacts with responders. Results indicate that survivors’ perceptions of responsiveness were not associated with continued disclosure, but survivors were more likely to continue disclosing when they perceived more rape myth acceptance from responders and when the assault was more recent. These findings highlight survivors’ tenacity in meeting their needs, even after problematic responses.

Rape Myth Acceptance Among College Students in India: Prevalence and Predictors in a Changing Context

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Hanif Qureshi ◽  
Teresa C. Kulig ◽  
Francis T. Cullen ◽  
Bonnie S. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Sexism and Rape Myth Acceptance: The Impact of Culture, Education, and Religiosity

2019 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 929-951
Author(s):  
Francesca Prina ◽  
Julie N. Schatz-Stevens
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Sexist Attitudes ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Myth Acceptance

This study explores the influence of education and religiosity on sexist attitudes towards women and rape myth acceptance in two samples totaling 399 participants from the United States and Italy. Both samples completed a demographic questionnaire that assessed age, area of residence, and racial and gender identification. Three questions about religiosity and three about education were included, as well as the Attitudes Towards Women Survey and the Acceptance of Modern Myths about Sexual Aggression. In the Italian pool, 44 held at least a bachelor’s degree, 108 had completed some college, and 29 completed high school at most, while the United States pool consisted of 83, 123, and 12, respectively. Average self-reported levels of religiousness were M = 3.87 (SD = 3.05) in Italy and M = 5.10 (SD = 2.76) in the United States. In both samples, religiosity was a strong predictor of both sexism and rape myth acceptance, while education was only related to rape myth acceptance and with less strength than religiosity. Moreover, country of residence was an important influence for sexist beliefs along with both religiosity and education; however, for rape myth acceptance, country did not have a significant impact.

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