Attitudes Toward Wife Rape: Effects of Social Background and Victim Status

• NCJ Number: 195897
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 341-354
• Author(s): Kathleen C. Basile
• Editor(s): Roland D. Maiuro Ph.D.
• Date Published: June 2002
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored attitudes toward wife rape using 1997 data from a national probability sample and focused on predictors of attitudes about the perceived occurrence and frequency of wife rape and the level of agreement with a composite of rape scenarios.

Abstract

Understanding attitudes toward wife rape is seen as important. This study examined wife rape attitudes among the national public; allowed for a comparison with earlier research; provides evidence that victim status can make a difference in attitudes about wife rape; and provides research that is seen as timely. This study expected that males and Blacks and other racial minorities would have wife rape supportive attitudes, there would be a positive relationship between age and wife rape supportive attitudes, and there would be differences in attitudes based on victim status. Data were collected as part of a 1997 national poll, a random telephone survey of 1,108 residents in the United States. Study findings indicated that overall, national attitudes toward wife rape were less rape supportive than expected, based on previous literature. Americans were more likely than not to recognize forced sex by a husband as rape. However, variation was found in attitudes toward specific scenarios suggesting that victims were still perceived to play some part in their own victimization. The study emphasized the important role of social background variables in predicting attitudes towards wife rape. Findings found that more education was associated with the belief that wife rape was less frequent. Further research is suggested on the relationship between education level and attitudes about wife rape. Finally, current or past victims were significantly more likely than non-victims to believe wife rape occurred. Future research to support this finding should examine the relationship between victim status and wife rape attitudes. A recommendation was presented for national studies with specific focuses on perpetrators in order to improve the problem of wife rape. Tables and references