We examined the association between rape myth acceptance RMA and reporting rapes to the police.
We examined the association between rape myth acceptance RMA and reporting rapes to the police. Situational characteristics of the rape e.g., stranger attack, injury are known predictors of reporting, but no existing studies have examined the association between beliefs about rape and reporting. In addition, most studies of RMA do not assess victimization history. Incarcerated women experience high rates of sexual assaults prior to incarceration. We recruited 74 rape survivors from a northwestern state prison. Results suggest that women who endorsed higher levels of RMA were less likely to report their rapes to police; however, participants endorsed few rape myths. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage.