Attribution of blame in rape cases: A review of the impact of rape myth acceptance, gender role conformity and substance use on victim blaming

Narrative Construction of Sexual Violence and Rape Online

“…These reporting practices coupled together with misleading or overly sensationalist headlines can lead to 'teach[ing] rape myths to those who do not already hold them, strengthen rape myths in those who already do, and trigger rape myths in those who are ready to use them' (Franiuk et al 2008: 798). The effects of rape myth acceptance have been found to include victims refusing to disclose their victimisation to not only those closest to them but also to the authorities (Grubb and Turner 2012). Should victims choose to report their crime members of the police or other local authorities may be disinclined to believe victims (Grubb and Turner 2012;Page 2010;Ullman 1996), with the result that only a small number of sexual assaults are investigated and a smaller number of perpetrators are charged and tried for their offences (Grubb and Turner 2012).…”

“…The effects of rape myth acceptance have been found to include victims refusing to disclose their victimisation to not only those closest to them but also to the authorities (Grubb and Turner 2012). Should victims choose to report their crime members of the police or other local authorities may be disinclined to believe victims (Grubb and Turner 2012;Page 2010;Ullman 1996), with the result that only a small number of sexual assaults are investigated and a smaller number of perpetrators are charged and tried for their offences (Grubb and Turner 2012). If members of the public not only receive their information about sexual assaults and violence from old media but are now also readily able to interact with their news sources via social media, it raises questions about how individuals are employing rape myths in their narratives about sexual crimes and how this may influence the criminal justice system in the long-term.…”

But were you drunk? Intoxication during sexual assault in Norway

“…Sexual assault often occurs when the victim is intoxicated (Grubb & Turner, 2012). The body of research on incapacitated sexual assault (where the victim was too intoxicated to consent) is growing, and it has typically shown that forcible rape is associated with worse mental health effects than incapacitated rape (e.g.…”

“…A review of the literature on rape myth acceptance found that intoxication during the event influences how a sexual assault is perceived, both in terms of victim-blaming and perceptions of how ‘real’ the assault was (Grubb & Turner, 2012). This may mirror cultural stereotypes of what constitutes a ‘real’ rape or sexual assault, contributing to rape myths that survivor groups and support groups often try to counteract (e.g.…”

“…Myths about sexual assault may lead social networks to respond differentially to intoxicated and non-intoxicated sexual assault victims, but little is known about whether these groups of victims differ in terms of social functioning. Findings imply a link between victim intoxication and negative victim characteristics (Grubb & Turner, 2012), which could mean that intoxicated victims are at greater risk for social rejection or withdrawal, but this has not been investigated.…”