Clothing,Sex of Subject,and Rape Myth Acceptance as Factors Affecting Attributions about an Incident of Acquaintance Rape

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of victim's clothing, sex of subject, and rape myth acceptance on attributions concerning an incident of acquaintance rape. Subjects were male and female university students who read a scenario depicting acquaintance rape, viewed a photograph of one of three female models in a short, moderate, or long skirt, answered ten questions concerning their perceptions of the incident, and completed a Rape Myth Acceptance scale. Main effects were found for sex of subject, for rape myth acceptance, and for victims's clothing. There were 2-way interactions between rape myth acceptance and victim's clothing for four questions. Results of this study document existence of a belief in, and potential effects of, rape myths. Since belief in rape myths is likely to interact with clothing cues to affect perceptions of a victim, it is important that a rape victim's clothing not be allowed as evidence in a trial.