Rape Myth Acceptance

In a new study published online in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, the authors examined rape myth acceptance scale specific to Korean culture. The study also explored attitudes toward women and sexual double standards to support developing culturally appropriate prevention and intervention programs.

The full citation and abstract from SafetyLit are after the jump.

Rape Myth Acceptance Among Korean College Students: The Roles of Gender, Attitudes Toward Women, and Sexual Double Standard.

Lee J, Kim J, Lim H. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 2009; ePublished September 23, 2009

Click here for link to article and here for the DOI.

(Copyright © 2009, Sage Publications)

The purpose of the current study was to examine factors that influence rape myths among Korean college students. This study was particularly interested in the ways in which attitudes toward women and sexual double standard affect the relationship between gender and rape myths. Although the incidence of rape is a common concern in many current societies, within each society, the specific components of rape myths reflect the cultural values and norms of that particular society.

A sample of 327 college students in South Korea completed the Korean Rape Myth Acceptance Scale-Revised, the Attitudes Toward Women Scale, and the Sexual Double Standard Scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypothesized models.

Results revealed that in three of the four models, rape survivor myths, rape perpetrator myths, and myths about the impact of rape, attitudes toward women were a more important predictor of rape myths than gender or sexual double standard. In the rape spontaneity myths model, on the other hand, sexual double standard was a more important predictor than gender or attitudes toward women.

This study provides valuable information that can be useful in developing culturally specific rape prevention and victim intervention programs.