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Prevalence of Rape Myths in Headlines and Their Effects on Attitudes Toward Rape

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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.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported in part by a Faculty Advisor Research grant from Psi Chi. We are grateful for help with data collection from Taran Shepard, Alicia Hill, and Vanessa Nuñez.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Aurora University, Aurora, IL, 60506, USA

    Renae Franiuk

  2. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI, USA

    Jennifer L. Seefelt

  3. Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Joseph A. Vandello

Authors
  1. Renae Franiuk
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  2. Jennifer L. Seefelt
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  3. Joseph A. Vandello
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Correspondence to Renae Franiuk.

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Franiuk, R., Seefelt, J.L. & Vandello, J.A. Prevalence of Rape Myths in Headlines and Their Effects on Attitudes Toward Rape. Sex Roles 58, 790–801 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9372-4

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