Public Opinion About #MeToo Victims and Offenders: A Nationwide Experiment

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122110548
Author(s):  
Luzi Shi
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Public Reporting ◽  
Factorial Survey ◽  
Punitive Attitudes ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
The Public ◽  
Perceived Credibility ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Assault Victims

During the #MeToo movement, many sexual assault survivors are discredited because of their delay in disclosure or failure to report to the police. The current study investigates which factors influence public opinion towards sexual assault victims and offenders by analyzing data from a national factorial survey. Results show disclosing the offense immediately to the public, reporting to the police, and having a witness are positively related to punitive attitudes towards the offender, via increased perceived credibility of the victim. The results highlight the importance of understanding extralegal factors in shaping stereotypic views about sexual assault in the #MeToo era.

‘You should tell somebody’: An evaluation of a survivor stories blog project to motivate sexual assault victims

2021 ◽  
pp. 001789692110164
Author(s):  
Rachel E Riggs
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
Positive Health Outcomes ◽  
Blog Posts

Objective: Sexual assault victims often do not disclose their assaults or seek positive health outcomes. The RAINN Survivor Stories project shares testimonials in the form of online blogs from sexual assault survivors to motivate and encourage others to come forward and disclose their assaults. This study aimed to better understand the themes present in the survivor stories to motivate victims to disclose their assaults and seek positive health outcomes. Design: A theoretical thematic analysis was conducted on blog posts created for the project to identify (a) how the posts tell survivor stories and (b) how the posts model positive health outcomes using social cognitive theory and the disclosure processes model as a guide. Setting: Online setting linked to the rainn.org website. Method: Blog posts were collected for inductive thematic analysis. Themes were identified based on their prevalence in the data and their pertinence to the research questions. Results: Emerging themes included (a) overcoming initial disclosure, (b) overcoming the lasting effects of victimisation, (c) utilising support and (d) advocating for others after assault. Conclusion: Findings offer insight to researchers and practitioners creating media messages for sexual assault victims and other stigmatised groups by expanding understanding of modelled positive health outcomes in media and the disclosure process of victims.

Social Reactions, Coping Strategies, and Self-Blame Attributions in Adjustment to Sexual Assault

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Ullman
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Self Blame ◽  
Social Reactions ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Negative Social Reactions

The present study investigated the impact of social reactions of others to sexual-assault victims on disclosure of their victimization. A convenience sample of adult sexual-assault victims ( N = 155) completed a mail survey in which they reported information about their sexual assaults and postassault experiences. As expected, all negative social reactions were strongly associated with increased psychological symptoms, whereas most positive social reactions were unrelated to adjustment. The only social reactions related to better adjustment were being believed and being listened to by others. Victims experiencing negative social reactions also reported poorer adjustment even when other variables known to affect psychological recovery were controlled. Avoidance coping mediated the association of negative social reactions with adjustment. Implications of these findings for research and treatment of sexual-assault survivors are discussed.

scholarly journals Perceptions About Sexual Offenses: Misconceptions, Punitiveness, and Public Sentiment

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L. King
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Punitive Attitudes ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Public Sentiment ◽  
High Level

Decades of research on public opinion about crime reveal varying, yet relatively punitive attitudes that are often riddled with misconceptions. Sparked by the increased media and legislative attention devoted to sex offenders beginning in the 1990s, researchers began to more closely examine public opinion about sexual offenses. Findings suggest the public adheres to several misconceptions about sexual offenses and supports harsh sanctions for offenders. However, further research is warranted to more closely examine the relationships among these variables. Thus, the goal of the present study was to survey Pennsylvania residents to examine the degree to which misconceptions about sexual offenses inform punitiveness. The results supported the hypotheses in that a high level of support for misconceptions and punitiveness was identified, and adherence to misconceptions was the strongest predictor of punitiveness. These findings demonstrate a clear need for educational and awareness efforts to dispel public misconceptions about sexual offending and victimization.

The Effects of Obesity Myths on Perceptions of Sexual Assault Victims and Perpetrators’ Credibility

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 662-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niwako Yamawaki ◽  
Christina Riley ◽  
Claudia Rasmussen ◽  
Mary Cook
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Victim Blaming ◽  
Blame Attribution ◽  
Perceived Credibility ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Assault Victims

This study investigated the effects of obesity myths on blame attribution and the perceived credibility of both an alleged sexual assault victim and her perpetrator. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three sexual assault scenarios (in which either the victim or the perpetrator was described as obese and one in which both were described as obese) and responded to questions measuring the blame attribution and perceived the credibility of both individuals. A main effect of scenario was found on the perpetrator’s credibility, indicating that participants rated the obese perpetrator as more credible when the victim was obese in comparison with when the victim was nonobese. However, no main effect of scenario was found on the victim’s credibility and blame attribution, denoting that the victim’s or perpetrator’s weight did not influence participants’ perceptions of the victim’s credibility or blame attribution. The belief in obesity myths was the most significant predictor of victim blaming. However, differing patterns of the effects of obesity myths were found on the victim’s credibility and the perpetrator’s credibility. The belief in obesity myths was a significant predictor only when the victim was obese, whereas it was not a significant predictor in the scenarios where both the victim and the perpetrator were obese or the perpetrator was obese and the victim was nonobese. As for the perpetrator’s credibility, the belief of obesity myths was not a significant predictor. Instead, the scenario was a significant predictor. Implications of obesity-myth endorsement in relation to sexual assault are discussed.

Sexual Assault in the Ivory Tower: Public Opinion on University Accountability and Mandatory Reporting

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Mancini ◽  
Justin T. Pickett ◽  
Corey Call ◽  
Robyn Diehl McDougle ◽  
Sarah Jane Brubaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Mandatory Reporting ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
The Public ◽  
Campus Sexual Assault ◽  
Institutional Accountability ◽  
Sexual Assault Policy ◽  
Research And Policy

Highly publicized college sex crimes have recently captured public and policy attention. In response, greater discussion has turned to institutional accountability and controversial reforms such as mandatory reporting (MR). No study to date has measured public perceptions of campus sex assault procedures, however. This omission is notable because public opinion can directly and indirectly shape crime policy and because the topic has become increasingly politicized. Drawing on a 2015 poll of Virginia residents, this study evaluates views about campus sexual assault policy. Results indicate that two thirds of the public feel universities can effectively respond to sex crime and a large majority favors MR. Some differences in public opinion are evident. Research and policy implications are discussed.

Occupational Well-Being in Sexual Assault Victims and Survivors

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-185
Author(s):  
Pamela Wadsworth ◽  
J. A. Eve Krahe ◽  
Elissa Allen
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Gendered Violence ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Grounded Theory Method ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
Bullying Programs ◽  
Assault Survivors

Purpose: While researchers have established that sexual assault may adversely affect successful employment and academic achievement, little is known about the barriers and facilitators of occupational well-being from the perspective of sexual assault survivors. This study assessed the barriers and facilitators of occupational well-being. Design: Constructivist grounded theory. Method: Digitally recorded, semistructured interviews were used to collect data. Data were collected from 22 adult female sexual assault survivors. Analysis consisted of coding, creation of data matrices, and within and across case analysis. Findings: Theoretical saturation was achieved after interviews with 22 participants. Barriers to occupational well-being were mental health symptoms and diagnoses, substance abuse, inflexible attendance policies, and workplace bullying. Facilitators to occupational well-being were personal coping strategies, and organizational and social support. Conclusions: Sexual assault has significant effects on the occupational well-being of women. The work or academic environment can exacerbate the harms of sexual assault or facilitate healing in sexual assault survivors. To facilitate the occupational well-being of sexual assault survivors, workplaces and academic institutions can adopt a trauma-informed approach, create policies that allow for time off to deal with sequela of sexual assault, implement anti-bullying programs, and make resources for gendered violence available.

Cold War redux in US–Russia relations? The effects of US media framing and public opinion of the 2008 Russia–Georgia war

2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 513-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oksan Bayulgen ◽  
Ekim Arbatli
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Media Framing ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Us ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Cold War

This paper examines the Cold War rhetoric in US–Russia relations by looking at the 2008 Russia–Georgia war as a major breaking point. We investigate the links between media, public opinion and foreign policy. In our content analysis of the coverage in two major US newspapers, we find that the framing of the conflict was anti-Russia, especially in the initial stages of the conflict. In addition, our survey results demonstrate that an increase in the media exposure of US respondents increased the likelihood of blaming Russia exclusively in the conflict. This case study helps us understand how media can be powerful in constructing a certain narrative of an international conflict, which can then affect public perceptions of other countries. We believe that the negative framing of Russia in the US media has had important implications for the already-tenuous relations between the US and Russia by reviving and perpetuating the Cold War mentality for the public as well as for foreign policymakers.

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