NCJ Number
137759
Journal
Journal of Social Issues Volume: 48 Issue: 1 Dated: (1992) Pages: complete issue
Editor(s)
J W White,
S B Sorenson
Date Published
1992
Length
195 pages
Annotation
The contributors to this special issue direct attention to the historical, political, and sociocultural factors associated with the likelihood of coercive sexual incidents and present research findings and theoretical formulations to further the understanding of rape.
Abstract
Several significant findings emerge from the research on rape. One well-documented fact is the widespread occurrence of acquaintance rape or "date rape." Another finding is the great underreporting of rape which is due in part to the inability of many victims to conceptualize sexual assault by a date or an acquaintance as a "real rape." A contributing problem is the variation in definitions of what constitutes sexual assault both in research studies and in laws throughout the United States. Study findings show that victims of sexual assault consistently exhibit distressing short-term and long-term emotional and behavioral reactions. A relatively recent finding is the important effect of the cultural and situational context on the incidence of rape. Other research addresses interpretations of rape, including the feminist perspective; the impact of rape law reform; and ways media coverage of sexual violence and exploitation can encourage antisocial attitudes and behavior. 1 figure, 5 tables, and 490 references