Intercollegiate Athletes and Sexual Violence

Abstract

The 1990s saw the development of research on violence against women perpetrated by intercollegiate student-athletes. Research in this field stagnated during the last 15 years, despite the fact that this time period has evidenced multiple high-profile, even fatal, cases of violence against women at the hands of male student-athletes. These events prompted the Office of Civil Rights to call upon universities to more appropriately investigate and sanction perpetrators of sexual assault. The ensuing actions by universities are expected to bring a renewed focus on male student-athletes, requiring further research to explore student-athletes sexually abusing women. This article outlines the pertinent literature on violence against women by male student-athletes, and suggests future research using new institutionalism as a theoretical framework.

Blaming the Victim of Acquaintance Rape: Individual, Situational, and Sociocultural Factors

“…Researchers suggest that male-dominated environments such as those mentioned above are particularly likely to promote sexist attitudes and behaviors and may facilitate greater risk of sexual assault as well as victim-blaming myths (Sanday, 1990; Melnick, 1992; Koss and Gaines, 1993; Boeringer, 1996, 1999; Boswell and Spade, 1996; Bleecker and Murnen, 2005; McCray, 2014). Rape cultures are typically defined as hypermasculinized environments that glorify coercive sexual behavior as central to their group identity (O’Toole, 2007).…”

Sexual Coercion Practices Among Undergraduate Male Recreational Athletes, Intercollegiate Athletes, and Non-Athletes

“…Male intercollegiate athletes are at particularly high risk for perpetrating sexual violence (McCray, 2015). Intercollegiate athletes are athletes that represent their college or university in athletic events that are coordinated by an authoritative body (e.g., National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]), against other colleges or universities.…”

Preventing Sexual Violence on College Campuses: An Investigation of Current Practices of Conducting Background Checks on Student-Athletes

“…IHE have begun targeting student-athletes as the source of campus violence, primarily surrounding sexual assaults. There have been studies that suggest a connection exists between athletic participation and committing acts of sexual violence (Boeringer, 1996(Boeringer, , 1999Forbes et al, 2006;Frintner & Rubinson, 1993;Koss & Gaines, 1993;McCray, 2015;McMahon, 2011;Murnen & Kohlman, 2007;Young et al, 2017). Both research and media reports of sexually violent crimes Table 1.…”

“…Research attempting to correlate athletic participation with the propensity to be sexually violent is both vast and inconsistent. Many studies suggest a connection exists between athletic participation and sexual violence (Boeringer, 1996(Boeringer, , 1999Forbes et al, 2006;Frintner & Rubinson, 1993;Koss & Gaines, 1993;McCray, 2015;McMahon, 2011;Murnen & Kohlman, 2007;Young et al, 2017) while another body of scholarship has found no such connection exists (Caron et al, 1997;Crosset, Benedict, & McDonald, 1995;Gidycz, Warkentin, & Orchowski, 2007;Smith & Stewart, 2003). Moreover, researchers have questioned the findings and assertions between athletic participation and sexual violence due to methodological concerns (Crosset, 1999;Kimble, Russo, Bergman, & Galindo, 2010;Koss & Gaines, 1993).…”

“…Media discourse surrounding instances of student-athletes committing acts of sexual violence has guided the conversation towards reform. Much of the discussion on reform has been directed toward student-athletes, a decision that can be supported by research that suggests student-athletes are more prone to committing acts of sexual violence (Boeringer, 1996(Boeringer, , 1999Forbes, Adams-Curtis, Pakalka, & White, 2006;Frintner & Rubinson, 1993;Koss & Gaines, 1993;McCray, 2015;McMahon, 2011;Murnen & Kohlman, 2007;Young, Desmarais, Baldwin, & Chandler, 2017). On the other hand, studies have also found that certain characteristics such as competitiveness may contribute to the propensity to commit an act of sexual violence and is not solely based on athletic participation (Caron, Halteman, & Stacy, 1997).…”