This narrative qualitative study explored how sorority members negotiated their identities within systems of hegemony with their student communities. Sorority members used women's empowerment discourse to rationalize how they consumed alcohol, engaged in frequent consensual sexual relationships, and navigated relationships with fraternity men and…

The dialogue around violence against women has gone from a private matter to a national audience, primarily due to the sexual violence on college campuses and a recognition that it is part of a comprehensive system of power that affects all women. Researchers have shown that sexual violence is a significant issue on college campuses and there are…

Building durable peace through education requires addressing the gender ideologies and hierarchies that encourage both direct physical aggression and indirect harm through marginalization and exploitation. Although formal education systems are shaped by gendered patterns of social conflict, enmity, and inequity, schools can help young people to…

Many challenges exist to conducting participatory research and consultation with young people, especially with those considered vulnerable or at risk. Beyond respecting the safety and wellbeing of young research participants, researchers must be aware of barriers to youth engagement and be attuned to the many forms of youth resistance. As young…

The prediction of false rape-related beliefs (rape myth acceptance [RMA]) was examined using the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (Payne, Lonsway, & Fitzgerald, 1999) among a nonclinical sample of 258 male and female college students. Predictor variables included measures of attitudes toward women, gender role identity (GRI), sexual trauma…

Many public school districts across New York State provide sex-ed instruction that is inaccurate, incomplete and biased. This report examines sex-ed materials used during the 2009-2010 and 2010-11 school years from across New York State. Among the New York Civil Liberties Union's (NYCLU's) key findings: (1) Lessons on reproductive anatomy and…

Sexual violence is a common phenomenon in the United States. College women appear to be at an even higher risk than those in the general population. Though there is much we still do not know about the causes of sexual violence, the acceptance of rape myths has been associated with the perpetration of sexual assaults.

Raises questions about the representability of the trauma of rape and the purposes of its representation. Focuses on how the strategic enactment of a culturally dominant rape script can potentially open up a gap within which that script can be contested and the act of rape or death resisted. Discusses pedagogical challenges of teaching the…

The purpose of this investigation was to develop a culturally relevant rape myth acceptance scale for Koreans. Three studies on the Korean Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (KRMAS) with approximately 1,000 observations provide initial validity and reliability. Specifically, results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses support four subscales:…

The new and popular concern for rape may be attributed to three probably interrelated factors: changing standards regarding the depiction and discussion of sex and violence, an increase in the number of reported rapes, and rising rape consciousness on the part of women. (Author/AM)

Extends and refines existing research on the links between masculine gender roles and date rape by exploring three masculinity-related constructs: masculinity ideology, attitudes toward feminism, and homophobia. Results show that combinations of masculinity-related constructs predicted self-reported acceptance or perpetration of sexually coercive…

Lack of responsibility on the part of the victim was studied as a necessary component in determining whether a situation is defined as rape. Fifteen situations were presented to 200 students in upper level psychology courses at Southwest Missouri State University who were asked to determine if the situation constituted rape. If so, Ss were asked,…

Exposed subjects to sadomasochistic or nonviolent sexual passages, then to rape portrayal. Responses to rape showed interaction between gender and previous exposure. Gender differences were found in rape perception. Subjects believed that a high percentage of men would rape if not punished and that a high percentage of women would enjoy…

Dating violence is a significant problem on college campuses that requires preventive interventions. In addition, sexist and stereotypical attitudes that support abusive dating behavior have been recognized as potential risk factors. Previous research has found that fraternity and sorority membership is related to stereotypical beliefs concerning…

Proclivities toward rape and sexual force were studied among 159 college men at a small church-affiliated college. In completing a questionnaire, 34% reported some proclivity to rape or force sex, and those who reported such proclivities held more gender stereotyped attitudes. (SLD)