ERIC Number: EJ741386
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Sep
Pages: 12
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0361-6843
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Available Date: N/A
How Does It End? Women Project the Outcome of a Sexual Assault Scenario
Masters, N. Tatiana; Norris, Jeanette; Stoner, Susan A.; George, William H.
Psychology of Women Quarterly, v30 n3 p291-302 Sep 2006
Content and thematic analyses were used to examine women's written responses to a hypothetical attempted sexual assault. A community sample (N=371) participated in an experiment examining the effects of alcohol on sexual assault resistance. Women received a high-dose alcohol, low-dose alcohol, placebo, or control beverage and then projected themselves into a dating scenario culminating in an attempted sexual assault. Participants wrote their own endings to the story, which were analyzed qualitatively. Content analysis found that verbal and physical assertiveness were the most frequently described actions; calling out for help was less frequent. Three major themes emerged from story endings: gendered sexuality, interpersonal concerns, and empowerment. Findings included contrasting elements: Women's projected outcomes to the sexual assault scenario involved both traditional and alternative sexual scripts. Results supported the position that the current social construction of heterosexuality plays a role in high acquaintance sexual assault rates. Implications for developing effective antirape programs and for sexual assault research are discussed.
Descriptors: Females, Sexual Abuse, Simulation, Dating (Social), Responses, Drinking, Assertiveness, Sexuality, Empowerment, Interpersonal Relationship
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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