Effect of Beliefs on Rape Myths and Sexual Double Standards on Attribution of Responsibility for Sexual Harassment

Abstract

The research aimed to investigate the effect of beliefs on rape myths and sexual double standards on attribution of responsibility for sexual harassment among university students. Further, demographic differences (age, gender, family system, etc.) have been explored with relation to study variables. This research was carried out in three phases. In first phase, qualitative study was carried out to explore the individuals’ and researcher’s understanding of the terms sexual harassment, rape myths and sexual double standards through focus group discussions. Participants were also asked about the causes leading to these menaces, their general opinion regarding prevalence of these ills in society and how rape victims are treated in society etc. Total four focus group discussions were carried to obtain information. Two with all women students’ group, one with men students’ group and other with mixed group including both men and women students (N = 27 in total). The results of this study showed that participants have clear understanding of sexual harassment. According to them, touching, staring, making fun of others, passing negative comments etc. comes under sexual harassment. Rape myths were explained as myths related to rape like she is asking for it, her provocative dressing called men to rape her, her consent was included, etc. While, participants were not clear about sexual double standards. They have mixed the sexual double standards with general double standards in society. Moreover, findings have demonstrated that flaws in parenting system, modernization, lack of education and awareness and patriarchy, etc were the leading causes behind prevalence of sexual harassment, rape myths, and sexual double standards in society. It has been also shared that rape victims are treated very badly. They are killed in the name of honor and are forced to leave their homes. Majority participants of FGDs also think that these social menaces are highly prevalent in our society. In second phase, pilot study was conducted with 275 university students. The EFA was carried out to explore the factor structure of Rape Myths Scale and Assessment of Sexual Double standards among youth scale. The findings of EFA have showed that both these instruments are unidimensional in nature and all the factor loadings for these instruments were in an acceptable range. Furthermore, correlational analysis showed that Sexual Harassment attribution has a positive relationship with belief on rape myths and sexual double standards. Belief on rape myths has a positive relationship with sexual double standards. T-test of gender with study variables have showed that men attribute more responsibility to women for sexual harassment and they also endorse more rape myths as compared to women. Non-significant differences were found for sexual double standards. T-test analysis with family system has showed that individuals in joint family system attribute more responsibility to women for sexual harassment and have high belief on rape myths as compared to those who live in nuclear family systems. Main study was conducted in third phase. The sample size of main study was (N=500) university students. The results obtained demonstrated that men attribute more responsibility to women for sexual harassment. Men also endorse more rape myths as compared to women students. Non-significant difference was found for sexual double standards for men and women students. Young adults (17-24) approve more sexual double standards than adults (25-32). Individuals in joint family system endorse more rape myths and attribute more responsibility to women for sexual harassment. Age is found to be a significant moderation for relationship between sexual harassment attribution and sexual double standards. Rape myth is found to be a significant mediator for the relationship between sexual double standards and sexual harassment attribution. It is suggested that sexual double standards is still a new variable so to create more awareness and education about it, more researches should be carried out. Cross cultural researches must also be carried out to develop the cross cultural validity of indigenous instruments that were used in this research.