ACCEPTANCE OF RAPE MYTHS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to find the difference female students regarding the acceptance of female rape myths that victim blaming or excusing the perpetrator. Specifically, myths that involved victim’s fabrication of the rape and substituting circumstances of non consensualm is communication on victim s part. A sample of 300 undergraduate students with an equal number of male and female, enrolled in 4-5 years undergraduate program from private universities were targeted. Only single students lying in the age range of 17-25 years were included. Participants filled survey questionnaire of the Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (U1RMA) 2011. Independent sample t-test was done to find the difference among undergraduate male and were associated with sex to between genders. The findings refuted three assumptions of study as there was no significant difference between both genders (p>.05) in the acceptance of female rape myths, victim excuse victim blaming and perpetrator’s excuses. One sample t-test to compare perpetrator blaming with test values (22) and findings show that undergraduate scored significantly high blamed victims (M=33.75) more slightly proved one hypothesis. While and Perpetrator’s Excuses more in for these results may be than average (p<.05) • However, undergraduate students than accepting excuses (M=31.17) of perpetrators female undergraduate students rejected Rape Myths students. The probable reasons comparison to male undergraduate that Pakistan like most Asian countries has a religious ideology and distorted media portrayal °wn fault to suffer assault and excusing males urges. Our study had limitations patriarchal society that is supported by vague Creating a prejudice that it is rape victim’s actions by suggesting uncontrolled sexual scenarios that are less! items had rape because survey items had rape scenarios that are less prevalent locally.