Fear of Acquaintance Versus Stranger Rape as a "Master Status": Towards Refinement of the "Shadow of Sexual Assault"

• NCJ Number: 214707
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 355-370
• Author(s): Pamela Wilcox Ph.D.; Carol E. Jordan M.S.; Adam J. Pritchard M.A.
• Date Published: June 2006
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using a sample of 1,010 women from a southeastern State university, this study examined whether the extent to which fear of stranger-perpetrated and acquaintance-perpetrated sexual assaults were similar to the fear levels associated with other crime victimizations.

Abstract

The findings show that the college women in this sample feared sexual assault by a stranger more than any other offense examined. Despite the fact that victimization data from the survey used in this study showed that the percentage of women sexually assaulted by an acquaintance greatly exceeded the percentage of women who experienced stalking or physical assault by a stranger, women were still more afraid of being a victim of the latter two offenses than of being sexually assaulted by an acquaintance. Regarding nonsexual offenses, the women continued to have the greatest fear of crimes committed by strangers. The associations were generally strongest between fear of stranger-perpetrated sexual assault and fear of other stranger-perpetrated crime. Although not discounting the importance of a healthy level of fear of strangers and the provision of traditional antiviolence programming, the authors argue for the improved provision of information to college women regarding the greater risk of acquaintance-perpetrated sexual assault, factors that may place them at higher risk for such sexual assault, and preventive measures. Data were obtained from anonymous telephone interviews with 1,010 women at a large State university in the southeastern United States. They were first asked questions about their overall assessment of danger on campus, followed by questions on their fear of specific types of victimization (stalking, sexual abuse or attack, and physical abuse or attack) by either a known offender or a stranger. Next, subjects provided basic background information. Overall, the sample was approximately representative of the total female population at the university. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 40 references