title: Attitudes toward victims of rape: effects of gender, race, religion, and social class.
abstract: Although previous literature focusing on perceptions of victims of rape has examined how gender, race, and culture influence the attitudes one holds toward victims, these studies have yielded mixed results. This study compared perceptions of victims of rape across a wide range of ages, educational backgrounds, religions, and income levels, while focusing on gender and racial differences. Results indicate (N = 220) that victims of rape are generally viewed more sympathetically by females than by males and by Whites than by African Americans. However, the effect of race disappears when socioeconomic variables are controlled, suggesting a more complex relationship. Also, a hierarchical regression indicates that age, sex, education, and income are significant predictors of attitudes toward victims. This study builds on existing research that examines such attitudes from a cultural perspective and extends this literature by examining the interactive effects of several demographic variables within a community sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019548:Crime Victims; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012067:Religion; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data