New study examines 'hypermasculinity'

Tripathi, Natasha . University Wire ; Carlsbad [Carlsbad]03 Feb 2015.

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ABSTRACT
 
In a new study, titled "Denying Rape but Endorsing Forceful Intercourse: Exploring Differences Among
Responders," researchers asked 86 male college students, all identifying as heterosexual, if they would "rape a
woman" if no one would know and there would be no consequences. 13.6 percent said yes.

FULL TEXT
 
Publication: Daily Targum, Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ.

Nearly 32 percent of college men said they would force nonconsensual sexual intercourse upon a woman,
according to a new study published in Violence and Gender, a peer-reviewed journal.

In a new study, titled "Denying Rape but Endorsing Forceful Intercourse: Exploring Differences Among
Responders," researchers asked 86 male college students, all identifying as heterosexual, if they would "rape a
woman" if no one would know and there would be no consequences. 13.6 percent said yes.

When asked if they would "force a woman to sexual intercourse," that percentage more than doubled, as 31.7
percent said yes.

The study was meant to examine the psyche of men who do not consider certain aggressive sexual behaviors as
coercive.

"Hypermasculinity" refers to the exaggerated machismo deriving from stereotypical images of men, "including
notions that men should be strong, dominant and tough," said Sarah McMahon, assistant director at the School of
Social Work.

These statistics are consistent with similar studies conducted on the male appetite to commit sexual assault, she
said.

McMahon said she was still surprised the response to the first question in the study was as high as 13.6 percent,
considering that the question itself was phrased using the word "rape" explicitly.

"Most men know that 'rape' is wrong and unacceptable. Usually questions are asked more behaviorally, like the
second one," she said. "Many times perpetrators would not define their behaviors as rape."

She said both hypermasculinity and hostility were proven in research studies to be associated with attitudes and
behaviors more supportive of aggression and violence towards women.

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The research suggested specific character types and subdivisions of men understand hypermasculinity and rape
differently.

McMahon said there seem to be certain subcultures on college campuses, as well as within society as a whole,
where attitudes, behaviors and general environments could promote the denigration of women.

"Research on whether fraternities or male athletes are more prone to commit sexual violence is mixed," she said.
"There are some studies indicating that they are more likely and others that refute it."

She also said research has indicated other subcultures may be more prone to violence as well, such as the
military.

"A very important point is that most men are not violent, and that includes most fraternity brothers and male
athletes," McMahon said. "I have done research with athletes and found that most of them strongly oppose
violence and are willing to take a stance against it."

She said she believes effective prevention programs will need to emphasize providing students with the skills and
knowledge to recognize indicators that precede sexual assault, as well as the conviction to step in when
something is not right.

"We need to be starting early with boys and girls, to teach them about treating one another with respect,"
McMahon said. "Bullying may be a predictor of later acts of violence, so we need to work on these issues prior to
students coming to colleges."

One primary media literacy program on prevention strategy for sexual assault is being taught in various programs
around New Jersey, said Sharon Zucker, an instructor and program coordinator at the School of Social Work.

With this program, Zucker said children might be able to better form opinions about gender roles and norms,
especially regarding hypermasculinity.

"The concept is to be able to talk to kids about how to deconstruct media images and look at the messaging they
[see] on a daily basis," she said. "Not necessarily to criticize, but to look at things differently."

McMahon said Rutgers has a comprehensive and well-developed approach to sexual violence, and has been a
longstanding leader on these issues due to the work of the Office of Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance.

She said there are many things that need to be done on college campuses and in society as a whole in order to
influence possible assaulters and keep more people safe.

"There is not just one thing that needs to happen, but rather, a comprehensive approach to addressing sexual
assault," she said.

Work at the Center on Violence Against Women and Children heavily focus on the idea of bystander intervention,
because the center's research is showing it to be most effective.

Franziska Heidt, a graduate student at the School of Management and Labor Relations, said she imagines

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bystander intervention would be most effective when another person is in danger.

"This is where I think real change will happen," McMahon said. "There is a trend right now in sexual violence
prevention towards bystander intervention, which suggests that sexual violence is a community issue and we all
have a responsibility to help address it.

Credit: Natasha Tripathi

DETAILS

Subject: College students; Sex crimes; Studies; Violence; Men

Publication title: University Wire; Carlsbad

Publication year: 2015

Publication date: Feb 3, 2015

Section: News

Publisher: Uloop, Inc.

Place of publication: Carlsbad

Country of publication: United States, Carlsbad

Publication subject: General Interest Periodicals--United States

Source type: Newspapers

Language of publication: English

Document type: News

ProQuest document ID: 1650369401

Document URL: http://0-

search.proquest.com.wizard.umd.umich.edu/docview/1650369401?accountid=1457
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Copyright: © 2015 UWIRE, a division of Uloop

Last updated: 2017-11-22

Database: Global Newsstream

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