NCJ Number
129525
Journal
Family Relations Volume: 40 Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 65-71
Date Published
1991
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article investigates the prevalence of sexual assault on one college campus and its policy implications.
Abstract
A questionnaire sample was administered to students in the classroom setting. Of the 518 women respondents, 34 percent experienced unwanted sexual contact, 20 percent experienced unwanted attempted intercourse, and 10 percent experienced unwanted completed intercourse. The experiences occurred frequently in university or community residences, were party-related, and commonly involved alcohol use. In the majority of the cases, the relationship was casual, and the men were either strangers, acquaintances, or friends. Various verbal and physical tactics were used by the males resulting in psychological and some physical injuries. Underreporting of the incidents was pervasive. Male perceptions of their sexual experiences were markedly different. Of the 328 male respondents, only 9 percent reported unwanted sexual contact with a woman, 9 percent reported unwanted attempted intercourse, and 3 percent reported incidents of unwanted completed sexual intercourse. The usual dichotomy between stranger and acquaintance/date rape needs revision. Because at least four diverse types of sexual assault incidents -- stranger, party, acquaintance, and date -- occur on campuses, a different policy intervention is required for each type. 2 tables and 37 references (Author abstract modified)