Effects of gender, rape myth acceptance, and perpetrator occupation on perceptions of rape
| Published date | 02 November 2015 |
| Date | 02 November 2015 |
| Pages | 249-261 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-12-2014-0019 |
| Author | Simon Duff,Amy Tostevin |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Criminal psychology |
Effects of gender, rape myth acceptance,
and perpetrator occupation on
perceptions of rape
Simon Duff and Amy Tostevin
Dr Simon Duff is Lecturer and
Amy Tostevin is a Forensic
Psychologist in Training, both
are at the Centre for Forensic
and Family Psychology,
Division of Psychiatry and
Applied Psychology, University
of Nottingham, Nottingham,
UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of gender-stereotypical beliefs and associated
factors (gender, level of rape myth acceptance (RMA), and occupation) on public attitudes towards rape
victims with the aim of establishing whether participant and perpetrator characteristics have effects on
individuals’attitudes towards rape victims. With regards to participants, gender, age, occupation, and the
extent to which an individual endorses rape myths were investigated. The authors also considered whether
participants’attitudes were influenced by the occupation of a rapist as described in a vignette looking at
occupations deemed to be stereotypically male or female.
Design/methodology/approach –In total, 185 individuals participated in the study and were randomly
assigned to one of three conditions based on the rapist’s occupation (stereotypically male occupation,
gender-neutral occupation or stereotypically female occupation). Participants completed an online survey
consisting of a RMA questionnaire, read a short vignette depicting a rape scenario (where they were also
informed of the perpetrator’s occupation) and completed a further questionnaire on their attitudes towards
rape victims. Results were examined by regression.
Findings –The results indicate that both participant occupation and level of RMA significantly contributed to
attitudes towards rape victims, however, a statistically significant effect for rapist occupation was not found.
Originality/value –Findings are discussed in terms of implications for individuals working within services
supporting victims of rape and the potential consequences of holding stereotypical beliefs for rape victims
and perpetrators. It is important that research identifies those factors that might bias decision making in the
legal system and thus impact upon outcomes for victims and offenders.
Keywords Occupation, Gender, Backlash, Perpetrator characteristics, Rape attitudes,
Rape myth acceptance
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In 2013 the UK Ministry of Justice published findings indicating that in the 12 months prior to their
publication approximately 0.5 per cent of females reported having been a victim of rape or sexual
assault by penetration. This equates to approximately 85,000 victims. Of these individuals only
15 per cent stated that they had reported the incident to the police (Ministry of Justice, 2013).
These findings are supported by empirical studies showing that rape is one of the most
under-reported crimes in the UK (Grubb and Turner, 2012). There are a number of reasons as to
why victims may not report rape; fear of being ignored, believing it is not important enough to
warrant police involvement (Grubb and Turner, 2012), that the experience is considered to be a
private, family matter (Ministry of Justice, 2013), or not wanting to call the incident “rape”, as seen
in cases of rape within marriages or relationships (Mahoney and Williams, 1998). Additionally,
Received 15 December 2014
Revised 17 February 2015
11 May 2015
11 June 2015
Accepted 25 June 2015
DOI 10.1108/JCP-12-2014-0019 VOL. 5 NO. 4 2015, pp. 249-261, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
j
PAG E 24 9
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