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Abstract: 

This article pinpoints the elements of rape culture that lead to shaming, blaming, and stigmatizing victims as well as normalizing sexual violence. It summarizes a study that investigated the attitudes of college students toward reports of sexual assault victimization and the extent to which endorsement of rape culture affects reactions to victims’ reports. Results of the study indicated that this particular sample, which was predominantly female, feminist, and politically liberal, was generally supportive and empathetic toward MeToo disclosures. Additional findings, as well as limitations of the study, are discussed.

Keywords: Rape Culture; Social Responses to Victimization; Shame, Stigma, Victim Blaming; #MeToo Activism

Affiliations:  1: Caroll University; 2: Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 3: University of Bridgeport; 4: Texas Christian University; 5: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.