Patterns of Victim Blame and Rape Myth in a University Student Newspaper

• In Event: Rape in the Media and Responses

Abstract

Victims of sexual offenses often fear being blamed for crimes committed against them. The media play an important role in blame attribution in their reporting. In response to an informal policy to publish every sexual offense incident on the front page of the university student-run newspaper, this project analyzed newspaper stories published during AY 2015-2016 to compare both the frequency and type of victim blaming present in stories about sexual offenses to other crimes such as homicide or assault. Results show that victims of sexual offenses were blamed more frequently than victims of the other crimes. Specifically, sexual offense victims were discredited in articles about their crimes using passive voice, or implicit lack of blame to perpetrators, in approximately half of these stories. Perpetrators were infrequently blamed in stories and were then most often absolved by use of alcohol. In light of how university newspapers can shape individuals’ views about responsibility for criminal acts, as well as low reporting rates for university sexual offenses, we conclude university newspapers should make efforts to reduce victim blaming in their presses.

Authors

• Kayla Allison-Gruenewald, Indiana University

• Miriam Northcutt Bohmert, Indiana University

• Caitlin Ducate, Indiana University

• Brittany Hood, Indiana University

• John Gonsler, Indiana University