Survey methods, which are used often in research on sexual assault, lose the participant’s voice to define her own experience. When conducting survey research, the researcher decides how victimization will be opera­tionally defined. Only sexual assault experiences as defined by the re­searcher are examined (Muehlenhard et al., 1992). Moreover, the data obtained are limited by […]

Scenario research on acquaintance rape typically has explored various aspects of a woman’s appearance and behavior while neglecting character­istics of the man (Calhoun & Townsley, 1991). One independent variable examined by researchers has been women’s early versus late verbalization of refusal. This research question suggests that a woman relinquishes the right to say no to […]

Research methods also can influence our understanding of rape and sexual assault and how we interpret reality. Perceptions of reality can be­come distorted when the purposes and limitations of various methodologies are misunderstood or ignored (White & Farmer, 1992). Traditional as­sumptions about consent and sexual assault may influence the types of research questions asked and […]

Defining rape primarily in terms of nonconsent has made it more difficult to come to a complete understanding of sexual assaults that occur between persons who know each other. The larger cultural context in which sexual violence occurs may be lost when research and prevention efforts become so tightly focused on issues of consent. Research […]

Because the law defines rape as a crime, it is important to examine historical legal definitions and past and contemporary legal processes as they relate to sexual assault. Historically, the law conceptualized rape as the violation of a man’s property. It was a man’s, specifically a husband’s or a partner’s, personal privilege to have access […]

Several factors have contributed to the present-day sexual script. These include historically rooted messages about women as property and racist and classist assumptions about sexuality. In the colonial period, a woman’s sexual purity was crucial to her ability to attract a spouse. Therefore, her value within society often was measured by her ability to marry […]

Sexual scripts are schemas that guide individuals’ interpretations of, and behaviors in, sexual situations. They operate at both the institutional and individual level. Norms regarding sexuality are internalized by indi­viduals within a culture and influence their beliefs about appropriate thoughts and actions. Before we discuss these sexual scripts, it may be helpful to first examine […]

The views of women, men, and sexuality discussed above are reflected in various cultural myths. They converge to support the conclusion that sexual assault is seduction and submission is consent (Pineau, 1989). In­deed, a review of the literature finds that acceptance of rape myths is higher among men, particularly men who report having engaged in […]

Lastly, sexuality has been described as a contractual agreement. Pi — neau (1989) has critiqued the traditional conceptualization of consent, which “sets up sexual encounters as contractual events in which sexual aggression is presumed to be consented to unless there is some vigorous act of refusal” (p. 233). According to this view, whenever a woman’s […]

A third metaphor describes sexuality as a physical force, a presence that is exerted on others. This conceptualization of sexuality is evident in such phrases as “she’ll knock you off your feet,” “she was giving off sexy vibes,” and “she blew him away.” This metaphor also can provide a basis for rape (Lakoff &. Johnson, […]