NCJ Number
74720
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study explored campus attitudes toward rape by black students at a small, black university and hypothesized that young, black males in college do not differ significantly from the male population as a whole in their perception of rape.
Abstract
The subjects came from a primarily suburban area; most were Protestant, and politically moderate to somewhat liberal. About one-half of the group's parents did not complete grade school. They were administered a questionnaire which examined their attitudes about rape, rapists, punishment or treatment for offenders, and response choices of the victim after the attack. The study also included responses from black females and white males and females. Findings showed that among younger black males, many myths about rape persist; among those over 21, attitudes are similar to their white counterparts. Over 75 percent of the black male younger age group felt that the rape victim cannot count more on needed support from the medical and legal system than from family and friends. White males were significantly more in favor of punishment than were black males. While over 80 percent of the black males said 'no' to execution for a convicted rapist, nearly 50 percent of white males said 'yes.' Strong differences of opinion thus exist between black and white males about rape and should be explored further. A total of 21 notes are appended.