As a grand jury in New York State reviews the alleged gang rape of a female student at Cornell University in 2024, the ways in which universities handle sexual violence among their students is being questioned. A recent U.K. study looked at acceptance of rape myths, such as “she was asking for it” or “she lied”, in university students. The researchers compared field of study, victimization experiences, demographics, and psychological traits among the subjects. The researchers found rape myth acceptance widespread in subjects. Especially troubling is that acceptance of these myths was highest among students in the hard sciences, business, and law. The study’s findings could be a key in how universities address and prevent sexual violence by targeting education designed to improve understanding around consent and debunk rape stereotypes. More study is needed to fully understand and identify target populations for interventions.
Rape Myths and Prevention
