Judgments About Male Victims of Sexual Assault by Women: A 35-Year Replication Study

2022 ◽  
pp. 088626052110629
Author(s):  
Emma K. PeConga ◽  
Jacqueline E. Spector ◽  
Ronald E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Male Victim ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Generational Changes ◽  
Male Cohort ◽  
Gender Pattern ◽  
Male Rape Myths ◽  
Victim Gender

Sexual assault of men by women has received increasing attention in recent years, as has research on rape myths about male victims. This study is a cross-generational replication of a 1984 study of college students’ judgments about male and female victims in a scenario involving a sexual assault carried out by male or female assailants. The 1984 data ( n = 172) were compared with those of a 2019 cohort ( n = 372) in a 2 (participant gender) x 2 (assailant gender) x 2 (victim gender) x 2 (cohort) factorial design to assess potential generational changes in perceptions of victims. Judgments by male participants of male victims of assaults carried out by women changed notably over time. The 2019 male cohort was less likely to judge that the victim initiated or encouraged the incident (40% in 1984 compared with 15% in 2019) and derived pleasure from it (47.4% in 1984 compared with 5.8% in 2019). In contrast, the 2019 female cohort was more likely to attribute victim encouragement (26.9% compared with 4.3% in 1984) and pleasure to the male victim (25% in 2019 compared with 5% in 1984). A similar gender pattern occurred in judgments of how stressful the event was for the male victim. Analysis of the 2019 data revealed that overall, despite scientific and cultural shifts that have occurred over the past three decades, participants continued to judge the male victim of assault by a female to have been more encouraging and to have experienced more pleasure and less stress than in any other assailant/victim gender combination. Results are discussed in relation to gendered stereotypical beliefs and male rape myths, as well as possible sensitization to power differentials inspired by the #MeToo movement. We emphasize the need for greater awareness and empirical attention to abuse that runs counter to preconceived notions about sexual victimization.

Real men can't get raped: an examination of gendered rape myths and sexual assault among undergraduates

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina L. Reitz-Krueger ◽  
Sadie J. Mummert ◽  
Sara M. Troupe
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Sexual Assaults ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Relative Neglect ◽  
Male Rape Myths

Purpose While awareness of sexual assaults on college campuses has increased, the majority of efforts to address it are focused on female victims. The relative neglect of male victims may be due in part to problematic rape myths that suggest men cannot be sexually assaulted, especially by women. The purpose of this paper is to compare rates of different types of sexual assault between male and female undergraduates, and explore the relationship between acceptance of traditional rape myths focused on female victims, and rape myths surrounding male victims. Design/methodology/approach Students at a mid-sized university in Pennsylvania (n=526) answered an online questionnaire about their own experiences of sexual assault since coming to college, as well as their endorsement of male and female rape myths. Findings While women experienced more sexual assault overall, men were just as likely to have experienced rape (i.e. forced penetration) or attempted rape. Acceptance of male and female rape myths was significantly correlated and men were more likely than women to endorse both. Participants were also more likely to endorse female than male rape myths. Research limitations/implications By analyzing sexual assaults in terms of distinct behaviors instead of one composite score, the authors can get a more nuanced picture of how men and women experience assault. Practical implications Campus-based efforts to address sexual assault need to be aware that male students also experience assault and that myths surrounding men as victims may impede their ability to access services. Originality/value This paper contributes to our knowledge of a relatively understudied topic: undergraduate male victims of sexual assault.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Sexual Assault: Effects of Victim Physiological Arousal and Victim Gender on Jurors’ Decisions

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Starosta ◽  
Regina A. Schuller
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Physiological Arousal ◽  
Juror Decision Making ◽  
Juror Bias ◽  
Female Victim ◽  
Male Victim ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Victim Gender

Limited research has assessed juror decision making in cases of female perpetrated sexual assault and the role played by factors such as the victim’s gender, physiological arousal, and participant’s gender in the decision making process. Participants (n = 215) were presented with one of four trial vignettes that varied the perpetrator and victim’s gender and victim’s physiological arousal. The impact of these variables was examined on guilty verdicts rendered, credibility, and blameworthiness of the victim and accused. Results demonstrate that the male victim was blamed more than the female victim. Further, male participants viewed the male victim to be less credible than the female victim. Lastly, male participants viewed the accused to be more credible when the victim was depicted as a male with signs of physiological arousal. The results reveal the disadvantages a male victim of female perpetrated sexual assault may face if he pursues his sexual assault at trial. Keywords: sexual assault, rape myths, juror bias, gender, physiological arousal

Deconstructing Incidents of Campus Sexual Assault: Comparing Male and Female Victimizations

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen M. Budd ◽  
Michael Rocque ◽  
David M. Bierie
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
The United States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male Victim ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Campus Sexual Assault ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Self Report Data

Research on campus sexual assault (CSA) has almost exclusively drawn on self-report data, examined undergraduates (i.e., students aged 18-24), and focused on female victimization. The few studies which included male CSA victims generally had fewer than 100 male subjects, which makes important statistical analyses difficult. To build upon prior literature and expand knowledge on male CSA victimization, we analyzed more than 5,000 incidents of CSA that were reported to police from across the United States using National Incident-Based Reporting System data (NIBRS; 1993-2014). We expanded victim age ranges to include those 17 to 32 years old and investigated more male CSA victimizations than prior work to date, approximately 350 incidents. Comparisons of male victim versus female victim CSA incidents, estimated via multivariate logistic regression, revealed several important patterns. Although both male and female victims were approximately 19 years old on average, perpetrators who assaulted females tended to be 23 years old while those assaulting males were on average 29. While 1% of CSA perpetrators offending against female victims were themselves female, 17% of perpetrators offending against male victims were female. Finally, CSA incidents with male victims were more likely to include multiple offenders, but less likely to involve stranger or Black perpetrators and also less likely to result in injuries relative to CSA incidents with female victims. Implications are discussed in terms of policing practices, and we pose new questions to the field regarding the study and prevention of CSA.

Abstract 196: Comparing Bystander Response to an Unannounced Cardiac Arrest Based on Victim Gender Using an Immersive Virtual Reality System

Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 138 (Suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Leary ◽  
Alfredo Almodovar ◽  
David Buckler ◽  
Jaldhi Patel ◽  
Zainab A Chaudhary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Sudden Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Emergency Situation ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Female Victim ◽  
Male Victim ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Bystander Response

Introduction: Bystander response to a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) should ideally be the same for all victims, however studies have shown disparities in response exist based on the gender of the victim. Current virtual reality (VR) wearable technology allows for the creation of high realism scenarios permitting manipulation of the victim’s gender in order to observe bystander response. Objectives: We sought to compare lay bystander response to an unannounced simulated VR SCA event based on the victim’s gender. Methods: Using our VR SCA system integrated with a CPR recording manikin, we randomized the avatar victim’s gender to either female or male (Figure 1). Subjects were able to interact with simulated bystanders, give vocal commands such as “call 911” or “get an AED”, and perform CPR on the simulated victim in the virtual environment while simultaneously performing CPR on the manikin. Subjects were unaware of the nature of the event but were told to respond however they would in real-life to an emergency situation. Subject’s ability to proceed through the Chain of Survival (Call 911, Perform CPR, Ask for and Use an AED) and CPR quality were recorded. Results: Between 9/2017 and 12/2017, 75 subjects were enrolled; mean age was 31±11 yrs, 35% were female, 49% were White, and 66% had never been trained in CPR or were trained >2 yrs prior. In total, 59% of subjects performed CPR, and 11% used an AED. CPR was performed on male victims 65% of the time vs 54% on female victims (p=NS, Figure 2a); An AED was used 21% of the time for male victims vs 15% for female victims (p=NS, Figure 2b). If the subject was male, CPR was performed on a female victim 56% of the time vs 71% for a male victim; female subjects performed CPR on a female victim 50% vs 58% on a male victim (p=NS). Conclusion: In our unannounced, immersive VR SCA study, there was a trend toward less CPR and AED use on female avatar victims. Future work will need to be powered to evaluate disparities in CPR and AED use based on gender.

What victims tell us about their sexual assault offenders: age, sex, victim-offender relationships, and type of threats (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali AL-Asadi
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Assaults ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Physical Force ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Female Perpetrators ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
Sexually Offended ◽  
Male To Female

BACKGROUND Sexual assault perpetrated mostly by males against mostly females is a serious crime that seems to remain relatively stable when other crimes have significantly declined. Many factors are involved in sexual assaults. Undertaking these factors and their relationships with one another is essential to designing and providing more efficient and empirically-based preventative and intervention programs. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze what victims of one sexual assault who sought therapy tell us about their sex, age at which they were assaulted, the sex and age of the perpetrator, the relationship with the perpetrator, and the type of threats used to gain their compliance. METHODS Therapists at eight sexual assault centers around the province of Alberta, Canada, completed a questionnaire on each of their clients over seven years. A total of 1525 participants, of which 1417 (92.92%) were female, and 108 (7.08%) were male victims of one sexual assault, were included in this study. Descriptive analyses were carried out on the six variables of concern in this study. RESULTS Female victims sought therapy by a ratio of 13:1 relative to male victims of one sexual assault. Victims seeking therapy reported that they were sexually assaulted by 1492 male and 33 female perpetrators, a 45:1 male to female ratio. Most female perpetrators (42.2%) were aged 30 years and older, followed by 39.4% aged 1-17 years. Most male perpetrators (46.2%) were aged 18-29 years, followed by 30.6% aged 30 and older. Perpetrators sexually offended mostly against their aged counterpart victims except for those aged 30 and older, who were involved in more cases of one sexual assault against a person in every age group. Over 90% of assaults were committed by a person known to the victim—acquaintances, friends, and dates comprised over 50%, and strangers 12.9% of cases. At 51.5%, physical force was the most common type of threat used by all perpetrators, followed by drugs and alcohol (13.2%), bribes and promises (11.5%), using weapons or threats of a weapon (9.2%). CONCLUSIONS Female victims of sexual assault seek help more readily than males. The majority of victims of sexual assault are females, whereas the overwhelming majority of perpetrators are males. In addition, perpetrators of sexual assaults are mostly known to the victims and have some relationship. Finally, physical force is the threat used most often to gain victims' compliance.

The Effects of Gender-Role Traditionality and Gender of Abuser on Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence and Perceived Body Size of the Victim and Abuser

Partner Abuse ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-248
Author(s):  
Niwako Yamawaki ◽  
Christina Riley ◽  
Nathan Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Gender Role ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Female Victim ◽  
Male Victim ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
New Directions ◽  
And Gender

The current study examined college students’ perceptions of male victims compared to female victims in a female abuser–male victim scenario and a male abuser–female victim scenario. Victim blaming, minimization of the seriousness of the abuse, and body size perceptions and how gender-role traditionality (GRT) affects these perceptions were investigated. Male victims were blamed as the victim more and their abuse was minimized more compared to female victims. These differences were moderated by GRT. Only the female victim and abuser varied in body size perceptions, and these perceptions were also moderated by GRT. Males blamed the victim and minimized the seriousness of the abuse more than did females. Implications for intervention programs and new directions in IPV research are discussed.

Male Victims of Sexual Assault

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian Mezey ◽  
Michael King
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Victim Support

Adult male victims of sexual assault appear to have similar reactions to female victims, but are more stigmatized, may experience greater subsequent anger and guilt, and are even less likely to report the offence than females. Increased recognition of these assaults is called for, both in law and by victim support agencies, in order to reduce the stigma, encourage reporting and facilitate the enforcement of criminal justice.

scholarly journals The Unusual Case of Sexual Homicide Against Males: Comparisons and Classification

2021 ◽  
pp. 0306624X2110491
Author(s):  
Julien Chopin ◽  
Eric Beauregard
Keyword(s):  
Latent Class ◽  
Target Selection ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Sexual Homicide ◽  
Strategy Method ◽  
Male Victim ◽  
Female Victims ◽  
Crime Commission ◽  
Empirical Typology

This study examines the specificities of sexual homicides involving male victims. First, this study aims to identify characteristics specific to SH involving male victims by comparing them to SH involving female victims and determine whether rational choice approach and routine activities theories are useful to explain the crime-commission process. Second, this study aims to provide the first empirical classification of SH involving male victims. The sample used in this research comes from the Sexual Homicide International Database (SHIelD) including 662 cases of cases—100 cases involving male victims and 552 involving female victims. Bivariate and multivariate analysis are performed to examine the differences between the two groups and latent class analysis is used to generate an empirical classification of cases involving male victims. Findings indicate the victim’s gender plays an important role in the different choices made by sexual homicide offenders of male victims to successfully complete their crime. They adapted their crime-commission process to overcome the risks associated with a physical confrontation with a male victim (i.e., target selection, approach strategy, method of killing). Classification analysis suggests that it exists three different types of sexual murderers assaulting male victims: the robber sexual murderer, the sadistic sexual murderer, and the pedophile murderer. This research proposes the first empirical typology of sexual homicide involving male victims and provides both a true picture of the reality and a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon.

Masculinities, sexualities and identities: Understanding HIV positive and HIV negative male rape victims

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliraza Javaid
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Hegemonic Masculinity ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Rape Victims ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Male Rape ◽  
Psychological Suffering ◽  
Male Rape Myths

This empirical article focuses on how HIV intersects with male rape, and how the virus challenges and weakens male rape victims’ sense of masculinity. Drawing on hegemonic masculinity to elucidate the different ways in which men as victims of rape cope with their disease, the article argues that male victims handle the effects of rape themselves to keep their masculinity intact. Drawing on interviews with HIV positive and non-HIV positive male rape victims ( N = 15), it is argued that male victims of rape not only often struggle to manage their HIV status in a social sphere, but also may suffer contradictions in relation to embodying hegemonic masculinity. In addition to such struggles, male rape victims sometimes attract victim blaming attitudes, such as ‘he asked for it’, indicating that male rape victims are blamed for both contracting HIV and for being raped. HIV positive and non-HIV positive male rape victims question their masculinity while stigma develops through social relations with other people, particularly other men. Male rape myths are present in western society. This article seeks to open up a dialogue surrounding the salient issues associated with male rape, including HIV and male rape myths, while attempting to eliminate such harmful myths. It is important to tackle male rape myths because they can contribute to the underreporting of male rape and can compound male rape victims’ reluctance to seek help for their HIV, emotional and psychological suffering.

scholarly journals Male Rape Myths: Understanding and Explaining Social Attitudes Surrounding Male Rape

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliraza Javaid
Keyword(s):  
Rape Myths ◽  
Social Attitudes ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Rape Victims ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Male Rape ◽  
Theoretical Paper ◽  
To Come ◽  
Male Rape Myths

<p>This paper provides a critical review of the literature surrounding male rape, aimed at exploring how male rape myths shape society’s responses and attitudes to male victims of rape and integrates the literature from a theory driven perspective. In doing so, this theoretical paper reveals information relating to the barriers to recognition of male rape. These barriers are male rape myths that prevent male rape victims from coming forward and seeking the support that they merit. There has been a lack of research on male rape myths, although some research has documented such myths to be present in practice. These myths could be harmful because they may influence societies’ opinions of male rape victims, so this could affect the treatment and responses toward such victims. To understand and explain such myths so some attempt can be made at eradicating them, this paper will explore common male rape myths that seem to be prevalent in Western society. This paper will examine male rape myths in the areas of media, incarcerated settings, and the wider community, focusing on England and Wales, UK. This is important to do to recognise which myths are harmful and are facilitating the under-reporting of male rape. This paper will help raise awareness of male rape myths and not only attempt to tackle them, but also encourage male rape victims to come forward to report and seek the help that they merit. It will also address the gaps in the literature and areas ripe for research, so further empirical research can be conducted on male rape, highlighting ideas for future research and providing guidance in areas most needed in research on male rape. </p>

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