Gender-Based High School Sociology Curriculum and Mexican American Students’ Perceptions of Rape Myth Culture

• In Event: 4331 - Teaching Sociology

Abstract

With the recent #MeToo Movement sweeping the political discourse, discussions of sexual harassment and sexual assault have had a social impact like never before. High school students witness and experience sexual harassment and sexual assault at alarming rates. Rape culture plays an important role in the lives of young women in high school, amplified by their experiences with social media. Sadly, schools continue to fail to address the needs of their students by inadequately addressing rape culture. Research suggests, however, that a critical curriculum focused on gender issues may help combat student rape myth acceptance. This study focuses on that impact for Mexican American high school students in a public school in Chicago. From a survey of 345 Mexican American high school students, this study updates previous exploratory analysis, creating a regression model that demonstrates the continued persistence of rape culture among these students, as well as factors that reduce it. Factors related to significantly greater rejection of rape myth culture include students who report lower levels of socialization to rape myth culture by their family and friends (p<0.01), students who identify as female (p<0.001) and LGBTQ (p< 0.10), as well as students who are better able identify sexual harassment (p< 0.001). The model further demonstrates the significant (p<0.001) positive impact of critical gender-based Sociology curriculum on rejecting rape myth culture In fact, when added to the regression model, having taken high school Sociology erases the impact of age or grade level here. Schools and educators should develop and implement curriculum that provides opportunities for students to examine and reflect on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape myth culture. Schools can, consequently, focus on shaping better men and improving the experiences, education, and opportunities of women in high school, college, the workplace, and beyond.

Author

• Dennis Kass, Little Village High School