NCJ Number
116671
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1989) Pages: 44-64
Date Published
1989
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study examined male and female beliefs about the effectiveness of rape prevention strategies, using an explicit quantitative scale for expressing effectiveness.
Abstract
All women face the threat of rape, forcing them to decide what to do to reduce their chances of being assaulted and how to defend themselves. A principal basis for such decisions should be women's estimates of the effectiveness of possible rape prevention and self-defense strategies. A questionnaire was administered to five groups of volunteer respondents: 41 women recruited through a university newspaper advertisement; 42 men recruited through the same advertisement; 40 women in support groups for parents of young children; 40 middle-aged university alumnae; and 47 sexual assault experts (38 females and 9 males) working primarily in criminal justice, victim assistance, or private consulting. Respondents were asked about the effectiveness of both rape prevention and self-defense strategies. All five groups judged prevention strategies to be highly effective, women more so than men and sexual assault experts. There was much greater variability in judgments for self-defense strategies, but respondent groups generally agreed with each other and with available statistical estimates of effectiveness. 19 references, 2 tables. (Author abstract modified)