Prevalence of Rape Myths in Headlines and Their Effects on Attitudes Toward Rape

Abstract

The present research investigated the prevalence and effects of rape myths in newspaper headlines. In study 1, a content analysis of online news headlines from US media (N=555) surrounding the 2003-2004 Kobe Bryant sexual assault case showed that 10% endorsed a rape myth. In study 2, students at a mid-sized university in the midwestern USA (N=154) read headlines endorsing or not endorsing rape myths. Male participants exposed to mythendorsing headlines were (a) less likely to think Bryant was guilty than those exposed to non-myth headlines, (b) more likely to hold rape-supportive attitudes than those exposed to non-myth headlines, and (c) more likely to hold rapesupportive attitudes than were female participants exposed to myth-endorsing headlines.

A review of the literature relating to rape victim blaming: An analysis of the impact of observer and victim characteristics on attribution of blame in rape cases

“…Finally, in a content analysis, it was found that newspaper headlines containing rape myths promote rape-supportive attitudes in readers (Franiuk, Seefelt, & Vandello, 2008); a notion that has profound consequences, as stereotypical portrayals in newspapers can help in justifying the perpetrators' acts (Ward, 1995).…”

Narrative Construction of Sexual Violence and Rape Online

“…Myths about rape persist among both men and women, although rape myth acceptance tends to be higher amongst men than women. It is suggested that women's acceptance and endorsement of rape myths is due to a belief in the control of victimisation; that is, if they do the 'right' thing and behave in a 'good' way, then they will not be sexually victimised (Bohner et al 2002;Franiuk, Seefelt and Vandello 2008). Men's endorsement of rape myths, it has been argued, may also occur not for misogynist reasons but because it allows men to distance themselves from rapists who are deemed 'monsters' or 'beasts' (Franiuk et al 2008: 791).…”

“…Therefore, discourses about sexual violence in the media tend to enact rather than counter traditional rape myths about the role of the victim and perpetrator in the criminal act (Greer 2003;O'Hara 2012;Sela-Shayovitz 2015). Research indicates that print, radio and television media are more inclined to blame victims for their sexual assaults (Franiuk et al 2008), and sexual violence is the only crime where pre-trial publicity tends to bias jurors against the victim, not the defendant (Mullin, Imrich and Linz 1996). As with the criminal justice system the most commonly endorsed myth is that the victim is lying (Franiuk et al 2008).…”

“…Research indicates that print, radio and television media are more inclined to blame victims for their sexual assaults (Franiuk et al 2008), and sexual violence is the only crime where pre-trial publicity tends to bias jurors against the victim, not the defendant (Mullin, Imrich and Linz 1996). As with the criminal justice system the most commonly endorsed myth is that the victim is lying (Franiuk et al 2008). This may not be intentional as Franiuk et al (2008: 799) suggest that journalists may believe that they are providing balanced journalism by highlighting doubt in the victim's story; however, this doubt tends to be expressed more clearly about the victim than when doubts are raised about the defendant.…”

“…Erdely's reporting of Jackie's story was troubling in itself, as it had chosen to focus on an alleged multi-perpetrator rape as a means of drawing attention to sexual assaults on college campuses. Erdely's (2014) report for a print magazine that also has an online presence re-enacted the issue that 'old' media outlets have a preference for sexual assaults that are sensational and out of the ordinary, in turn skewing the reading audience's understanding of sexual assaults (Franiuk et al 2008).…”