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Date Rape: Effects of Race of Assailant and Victim and Gender of Subjects on Perceptions

Christine Evancic

Karnik Karnik

Janet King

Angela Parks

University of North Florida

Perceptions of and reactions to date rape affect whether women will report their victimizations and whether authorities will prosecute the accused. The current research examines the effects of race of assailant (Black or White) and victim (Black or White) and gender (male orfemale) of subjects on perceptions of a date rape. The 75 subjects read a scenario describing a date that ended with forced sexual intercourse. The subjects responded to a series of questions about the interaction. It was hypothesized that (a) a forced sexual encounter would be perceived as less serious when the victim was a Black woman than if she were a White woman, (b)forced sexual activity between a Black male and a Whitefemale would be more likely to be considered date rape and a crime than would the same activity between a same-race couple or between a White male and a Blackfemale; (c)females would be more likely than males to define the forced sexual encounter as a crime, and females would be more in favor of prosecuting the perpetrator The second hypothesis was not supported. The other hypotheses were strongly supported. It is suggested that society be educated to replace stereotypes about date rape with accurate information. Otherwise, women-particularly Black women-will continue to be reluctant to report sexual assaults, cases of rape will be difficult to prosecute, and the assailants will continue to victimize others.

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