Societal Perceptions of Intimate Partner Rape
Within our society, rape has not been viewed as a prominent concern. Despite the statistics on the prevalence of rape, societal beliefs have until recent years allowed marital rape to persist legally across the United States. The rape culture that exists across the nation has influenced the treatment of both rape victims and offenders. Victims of intimate partner rape are unlikely to report an attempted or completed rape due to societal beliefs surrounding this topic. The post-traumatic experiences of victims and perpetrators of intimate partner rape are heavily influenced by the erroneous beliefs which society holds, known as rape myths. These include minimizing the severity of a rape and placing blame on rape victims. Rape myths distort legal and societal judgments regarding both victims and perpetrators of intimate partner rape. An individual’s endorsement of hostile and benevolent sexist beliefs influence the way in which he or she perceived instances of rape. Those who held sexist beliefs endorsed rape myths more than those who did not. In terms of the criminalization of perpetrators, intimate partner rape perpetrators were given less severe sentences than perpetrators of stranger rape. Conversely, victims of intimate partner rape experienced more shame and guilt than victims of stranger rape. Victims of intimate partner rape are negatively affected by societal perceptions of rape. Crimes labeled, “intimate partner rape,” were seen as less traumatic than experiences of stranger rape. The decision of a victim to disclose a rape event to a support provider is determined by the victim’s perception of how this individual may react to hearing about the rape. Researchers reported that societal beliefs must be changed by means of educating the public and increasing awareness of intimate partner rape. Future directions for research include investigating the viewpoint of perpetrators of intimate partner rape.
IDS 499, Capstone
Mary Ann Winter-Messiers
P003
2:30 – 3 PM