Citation

McLean CL, Crowder MK, Kemmelmeier M. Aggressive Behav. 2018; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, International Society for Research on Aggression, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ab.21765

PMID

29766522

Abstract

The overwhelming majority of rapes goes unreported. To better understand the sociocultural mechanisms behind why underreporting may occur, three studies (total n = 1,481) examine how women's endorsement of honor values influence the perceptions of rape. Using vignettes that varied the closeness of the perpetrator of a sexual assault (i.e., stranger, acquaintance, or husband), we found that women who endorse honor values of womanhood were less likely to label a forced sexual act as "rape" and to suggest that the victim discloses the rape to others, including to the police. This was especially true the closer the victim was to the perpetrator (e.g., husband vs. stranger). Our findings highlight the effects of honor values on perceived sexual assault and the consequences of disclosure, and may aid in understanding barriers to rape reporting and areas for intervention.

© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

honor culture; honor ideology; sexual assault attitudes; sexual victimization