Exploring the relationship between sexually explicit material and rape myth acceptance among heterosexual New Zealand men

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between exposure to sexually explicit material of women (SEM) and rape myth acceptance (RMA), as well as the relationship between various sexual attitudes, RMA and SEM among New Zealand men. The aim of the study was to contribute to the understanding and knowledge of RMA (specifically, the potential influences of RMA) in hopes of guiding future rape proclivity interventions within New Zealand and elsewhere.

182 NZ males chose to participate in the study via an online survey with 115 participants completing the full survey. The online survey revealed participants reported sexual attitudes, RMA, and SEM over the two months prior or during a typical week/weekday. Overall, it was discovered that the sample reported endorsing the sexual attitudes: ‘Permissiveness’, ‘Communion’, and ‘Instrumentality’ with no sexual attitude being vastly more endorsed by participants than the other. It was also revealed that the majority of participants did not report to highly endorse rape myths as measured by the Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (UIRMAS) and rape-themed vignettes. The majority of participants also reported a low level of exposure to sexually explicit material of women either over the two months prior or during a typical week/weekday. However, it was found that a minority of participants did report high levels of RMA and SEM.

Through a bivariate analysis, it was discovered that there was a significant positive relationship between the sexual attitude, ‘Instrumentality’ and RMA suggesting that those participants who viewed sex as instrumental to their needs may have also highly endorsed rape myths. However, no significant relationship between the variables (sexual attitudes, RMA with SEM) could be established as results of the study were analysed collectively to maintain participant anonymity. Thus, it was unknown if the participants who highly endorsed rape myths also had a high level of SEM for example.