Factors affecting students' perception of rape victims: Sex-role stereotype and the attitude toward rape

Abstract

Two hypotheses on the relationship between sex-role stereotypes of surrounding people such as friends, and their attitudes toward rape victims were investigated: (A) Surrounding people that are insensitive to gender equality believe rape victims are at fault, because they believe most women have a desire for violent sex and that flashy young women become victims of rape; (B) Surrounding people estimate the victim to be less at fault, because they believe that most assailants are strangers to the victim. A questionnaire survey was conducted with university students (N=370, 162 men and 208 women). Results partially supported Hypothesis A. The influence of sex-role stereotypes was mediated in both men and women by the attitude that women desire violent sex. Moreover, data from women respondents supported the mediating role of the view that victims of rape are flashy. Furthermore, only data from men supported Hypothesis B. These gender differences in perceptions regarding rape victims are discussed in terms of Shaver's “personal relevance” theory.