Perceptions of Sexual Victimization based on Victim-Perpetrator Gender

• In Event: Gendered victimisation

Abstract

Male sexual victimization by women is a topic often misunderstood and overlooked by the public, researchers, and legal justice systems. Researchers seeking to study attitudes and perceptions surrounding male sexual victimization by women are often limited as there are few validated, gender-inclusive experimental tools that reflect commonplace experiences. The current study addresses this gap by developing and validating vignettes that vary only in victim and perpetrator gender while maintaining equal contextual details. Using these vignettes, we examine how individuals perceive the seriousness of male sexual victimization by women compared to other victim-perpetrator gender constellations. Our findings contribute to the broader discourse on sexual victimization by highlighting potential disparities in how abuse is recognized and responded to across gendered scenarios.

Authors

• Jasmine Madjlessi, University of Ghent

• Arne Roets, Department of Developmental, Personality & Social Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium

• Christophe Vandeviver, Ghent University