NCJ Number
72990
Journal
Victimolgy Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 86-99
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Using 13 American criminology textbooks published between 1971 and 1977, this article reports on the textbooks' treatment of rape with regard to coverage, organization, and stereotypes.
Abstract
Content analysis was used to operationalize neglect of rape and bias in the treatment of rape in the texts. Four texts lacked a substantive discussion of rape, five others discussed rape only briefly, and the remaining four included a minimum of five substantive pages about rape. In addition, the inclusion of rape with sex offenses in half of the texts tended to trivialize rape's seriousness as a crime of violence. For example, rape was often linked with victimless sex offenses such as consensual homosexuality. Some texts included cultural myths and stereotypes about rape. In particular, a theme of victim precipitation characterized many texts. Criminology textbooks also included such myths as women want to be raped; you cannot rape a woman against her will; and rape is the result of sexual frustration. Many criminology textbook comments on rape should be revised since they are interpretations based on nonexistent, questionable, or biased research. The revisions are important because the image of rape in criminology texts reinforces cultural stereotypes and myths which are held by both the general public and criminal justice personnel. Tabular data, footnotes, and 32 references are included. (Author abstract modified)