Prevalence of Rape Myths in Headlines and their Effects on Attitudes Toward Rape Victims
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2008
Keywords
Sexual assault, Rape myths, Media, News headlines, Attitudes towards rape
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9372-4
Abstract
The present research investigated the prevalence and effects of rape myths in newspaper headlines. In study 1, a content analysis of online news headlines from US media (N = 555) surrounding the 2003–2004 Kobe Bryant sexual assault case showed that 10% endorsed a rape myth. In study 2, students at a mid-sized university in the mid-western USA (N = 154) read headlines endorsing or not endorsing rape myths. Male participants exposed to myth-endorsing headlines were (a) less likely to think Bryant was guilty than those exposed to non-myth headlines, (b) more likely to hold rape-supportive attitudes than those exposed to non-myth headlines, and (c) more likely to hold rape-supportive attitudes than were female participants exposed to myth-endorsing headlines.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Sex Roles, v. 58, issue 11-12, p. 790-801
Scholar Commons Citation
Franiuk, Renae; Seefelt, Jennifer L.; and Vandello, Joseph A., "Prevalence of Rape Myths in Headlines and their Effects on Attitudes Toward Rape Victims" (2008). Psychology Faculty Publications. 2276.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/2276
