Stop Blaming the Victim: A Meta-Analysis on Rape Myths

Autor/inn/en	Suarez, Eliana; Gadalla, Tahany M.
Titel	Stop Blaming the Victim: A Meta-Analysis on Rape Myths
Quelle	In: Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25 (2010) 11, S.2010-2035 (26 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0886-2605
DOI	10.1177/0886260509354503
Schlagwörter	Rape; Females; Prevention; Coping; Meta Analysis; Gender Bias; Misconceptions; Social Attitudes; Gender Differences; Feminism; Social Bias; Victims of Crime; Age Differences; Child Abuse; Racial Differences; Religion; Social Class; Sexuality + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Sexueller Missbrauch; Sexuelle Gewalt; Vergewaltigung; Weibliches Geschlecht; Prävention; Vorbeugung; Bewältigung; Meta-analysis; Metaanalyse; Geschlechterstereotyp; Missverständnis; Social attidude; Soziale Einstellung; Geschlechterkonflikt; Feminismus; Victim; Victims; Crime; Opfer; Verbrechen; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Abuse of children; Abuse; Child; Children; Kindesmissbrauch; Missbrauch; Kind; Kinder; Rassenunterschied; Social classes; Soziale Klasse; Sexualität
Abstract	Although male rape is being reported more often than before, the majority of rape victims continue to be women. Rape myths--false beliefs used mainly to shift the blame of rape from perpetrators to victims--are also prevalent in today's society and in many ways contribute toward the pervasiveness of rape. Despite this, there has been limited consideration as to how rape prevention programs and policies can address this phenomenon, and there is no updated information on the demographic, attitudinal, or behavioral factors currently associated with rape myths. This research aimed to address this gap by examining the correlates of rape-myths acceptance (RMA) in published studies. A total of 37 studies were reviewed, and their results were combined using meta-analytic techniques. Overall, the findings indicated that men displayed a significantly higher endorsement of RMA than women. RMA was also strongly associated with hostile attitudes and behaviors toward women, thus supporting feminist premise that sexism perpetuates RMA. RMA was also found to be correlated with other "isms," such as racism, heterosexism, classism, and ageism. These findings suggest that rape prevention programs and policies must be broadened to incorporate strategies that also address other oppressive beliefs concurrent with RMA. Indeed, a renewed awareness of how RMA shapes societal perceptions of rape victims, including perceptions of service providers, could also reduce victims' re-victimization and enhance their coping mechanisms. (Contains 5 tables.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10