Non-Heterosexual Female Rape Myths: A Study of Collegiate Perspectives

• In Event: Sex Offender Narratives and Attitudes

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which collegiate perceptions of non-heterosexual female rape reflect traditional forms of female and male rape myth acceptance. Though scholars have historically emphasized the importance of heterosexual female rape myths (i.e., false, stereotypical, or prejudicial beliefs held towards survivors and offenders in circumstances of rape involving female survivors and male offenders), there has been a growing body of literature examining heterosexual male rape myths (i.e., male survivors/female offenders) and non-heterosexual male rape myths (i.e., male survivors/male offenders). However, there has been little emphasis to date for the examination of non-heterosexual female rape myths (i.e., female survivors/female offenders). Utilizing a sample of introductory sociology students from a southern Flagship University, a series of focus groups were conducted to assess student perceptions of: a) non-heterosexual female rape; b) heterosexual female rape; c) non-heterosexual male rape; and d) heterosexual male rape. Implementing a constructivist grounded theory approach, analyses demonstrated consistency with extant literature on female and male rape myth acceptance. Furthermore, results revealed three discursive strategies employed to erase non-heterosexual female rape (e.g., constructing blame, mitigating harm, re-definition of the situation) which predominantly rely upon thematic elements present in traditional forms of female and male rape myth acceptance.

Authors

• Timothy T. Reling, Louisiana State University

• Kami Rutherford, Louisiana State University