Coerced sex: What variables affect perceptions of coercion and ascription of responsibility.
Item
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Title
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Coerced sex: What variables affect perceptions of coercion and ascription of responsibility.
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Identifier
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AAI3325405
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identifier
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3325405
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Creator
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Tamborra, Tracy L.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Karen Terry
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Date
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2008
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Sociology, Criminology and Penology | Women's Studies
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Abstract
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This project measured the affect of relationship status and the woman's reputation, within the context of a heterosexual sexual encounter, on perceptions of coercion and ascription of responsibility. This project also measured the effect of the respondent's gender on recognition of coercion, ascription of responsibility and the recognition of criminality. A 2 (reputation of woman; virgin v. promiscuous) x 3 (status of the relationship; stranger v. second date v. dating for one month) between subjects factorial design was utilized.;In all the findings suggest that sex (gender) significantly affects perceptions of coercion and recognition of problematic sex. Women were more likely than men to agree that verbal pressure is equivalent to coercion and that coercive sexual tactics are problematic. This project also found that the relationship status of the couple significantly affects perceptions of coercion. Respondents in the second date condition and one-month dating condition were more likely to agree that coercion was used when compared with respondents in the stranger condition. Findings also revealed that perceptions of coercion, ascription of responsibility and recognition of problematic sex were significantly correlated with acceptance of rape myths. Respondents who were more supportive of rape myths were less likely to agree that the sex was coerced; more likely to agree that the female was responsible for the coerced sex; and were less likely to agree that the sex was problematic. Finally, this project found a significant relationship between rape myths acceptance and sex (gender); men were more likely than women to accept rape myths.;This project has enhanced the coercion literature; begun the exploration of ascription of responsibility for coerced sex; confirmed gender differences as related to sexual exchanges; and furthered feminist perspective research. Findings from this project support the assertion that laws are reflective of male definitions, as most rape laws do not consider verbal coercion to be a form of force and therefore using verbal coercion to obtain sex/sex acts is not criminal. Because laws are more reflective of male definitions, changes to rape laws and public perceptions require gendered discussions and responses.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
