Sisterhood May Be Powerful for Reducing Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence: An Evaluation of the Bringing in the Bystander In-Person Program with Sorority Members

• NCJ Number: 235696
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2011 Pages: 703-719
• Author(s): Mary M. Moynihan; Victoria L. Banyard; Julie S. Arnold; Robert P. Eckstein; Jane G. Stapleton
• Date Published: June 2011
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined if sorority members may be at greater risk than other college women for sexual violence and intimate partner violence (IPV).

Abstract

Sorority members may be at greater risk than other college women for sexual violence and intimate partner violence (IPV). The authors evaluated the Bringing in the Bystander in-person program with sorority members who participated in the program (n = 30) compared with those who did not (n = 18). Results indicate that program participants showed increased bystander efficacy, likelihood to help, and responsibility for ending violence without unintended "backlash" effects. Implications include a call for future programming with more diverse sorority members over longer time. In addition, the authors discuss what the findings might mean for formal campus policies and practices for preventing sexual violence and IPV. (Published Abstract)