Perceptions, Victim Blaming, and Worthiness in the Sexual Violence of Same Sex Couples

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

This poster will present the results of an experimental design that explored differing perceptions of rape victims and perpetrators of sexual violence. Broader themes of victim worthiness, victim blaming, perceptions of alleged perpetrators, and appropriate punishment are also examined. In the first wave of data collection, subjects were randomly assigned to one of three comparison groups. In group one, subjects read an offense report written by a heterosexual woman who describes the victimization that she experienced from an ex-boyfriend. In group two, subjects read the same offense report, but the victim is now portrayed as a homosexual describing the victimization she experienced from a former girlfriend. In the third group, the offense report describes the victim as a homosexual man allegedly victimized by a former boyfriend. In the second wave of data collection, the same victimization event is described and groups are composed of the same victim/alleged perpetrator pairings. However, in this wave, the groups are presented with the incident in a more informal manner rather than in a formal police report. Results and implications will be examined.

Authors

• Kristin Rose, Truman State University

• Chris Rose, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh