Effects of Gender and Sexual Orientation on Perceptions towards Victims of Child Sex Abuse
Keywords:
child sexual abuse, sexual orientation, perceptions, rape mythsAbstract
This study investigated whether victim gender, perpetrator gender, and victim sexual orientation (homosexual or bisexual) influenced perceptions of responsibility, severity, and reporting behaviors in a hypothetical case of child sexual abuse. One hundred and twenty-two university students read one of eight vignettes and completed a questionnaire. The results showed no significant main effects for perpetrator gender or victim sexual orientation on perceptions of responsibility, severity, and reporting behaviors. Victim gender had a moderate effect on attributions of severity and victim sexual orientation had a moderate effect on the endorsement of rape myths. Implications for future research and for victims of child sexual abuse are discussed.
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