NCJ Number
227558
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 15 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2009 Pages: 835-851
Date Published
July 2009
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between sexual assault victimization, sorority membership, and participation in a range of sorority activities.
Abstract
The evidence from this study supports the theory that social context may influence otherwise nonviolent men to commit sexual assaults; this setting is defined by heavy alcohol consumption, peer norms supporting sexual activity, and the presence of bedrooms in the same building where parties are held. Results revealed that sorority members were victims of attempted sexual assault and completed sexual assault at a much higher rate than non-sorority members. Although part of this higher rate can be explained by sorority members' greater consumption of alcoholic beverages and greater attendance at coed Greek functions where alcohol is served, there appears to be some other aspect of sorority membership that also increases the risk for sexual assault. Participation in sorority activities that do not involve alcohol may have a protective effect against assault. However, more than one third of the rapes reported n the study occurred in fraternity houses. By changing some elements in this social context, university administrators may be able to prevent some rapes. Data were collected from 779 respondents (438 sorority members and 341 nonmembers) from a midsize public university. Tables and references