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

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.

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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

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260516636064 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (22) ◽

pp. 3502-3530 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

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.

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

SAGE Open ◽

10.1177/2158244016675015 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 215824401667501 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

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.

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Correlates of Disclosure Cessation After Sexual Assault

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/1077801216675743 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 85-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

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.

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