NCJ Number
190142
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 7 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2001 Pages: 876-885
Date Published
August 2001
Length
10 pages
Annotation
As an initial step in testing the relationship between rape-supportive attitudes and rape, this study examined the relevant attitudes of 851 adolescent males, who completed attitude and behavior surveys as part of a larger longitudinal study.
Abstract
The study objectives were to determine whether attitudes that were accepting of forced sex would predict the initiation of forced sex by adolescent males and also to determine whether rape-accepting attitudes resulted from the perpetration of forced sex. Baseline data for the larger study were collected in October 1994, and program activities were conducted between October 1994 and March 1995. Forced sex against a dating partner was measured with the question, "How many times have you ever done the following things to a person that you have been on a date with?" Two behaviors were listed: forced them to have sex and forced them to do something sexual they did not want to do. Acceptance of rape myth attitudes was assessed by asking the subject, "How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?" Nine statements were presented to the subjects, including "It is okay for a boy to force a girl to have sex if he paid for all the expenses of a date;" and "It is okay for a boy to force a girl to have sex if she got him sexually excited." The most important finding of the study was that diminishing rape-supportive attitudes in males can be effective in lowering perpetration of forced sex; however, additional research is needed. Long-term follow-up measures should be obtained so researchers can assess the retention of induced attitude changes and the behavior of forced sex. The current study suggested the need for early intervention to change males' rape-supportive attitudes. Involving males in educational programming as early as 13 years old may help decrease rape-supportive attitudes and prevent them from subsequently committing forced sex. 1 table and 32 references