Combining general strain theory with feminist theories to explain rape.

Abstract

A closed-ended survey consisting of 136 questions was distributed to 298 males in seven introductory sociology courses. After eliminating the missing cases and those who did not fit the age requirements for participation, a total of 190 cases were analyzed. The results indicate that Agnew's (1992) traditional GST model does not function in this study as he hypothesized. Strain did not lead to increased past sexually coercive behaviors or rape propensity in any of the models through negative affect. In total, five variables had direct relationships with the past sexually coercive behaviors: traditional values, benevolent sexism, rape myth acceptance, unjust thwarted attempts at sexual intercourse (a strain variable), and coping strategies. Four variables had direct relationships with rape propensity: being black, rape myth acceptance, negative emotional affect, and coping strategies. All of the relationships were positive, except for that between traditional values and past sexually coercive behaviors, and between coping strategies and proclivity to rape.

This study combines some of the empirical findings from feminist theory with Agnew's General Strain Theory (GST) in an attempt to explain two rape outcomes: past sexually coercive behaviors of males and the propensity of males to rape. Strain is conceptualized as rape-specific and measured in three different ways: threats to masculine status, dissatisfaction with amount of sexual intercourse, and perceived unjust thwarted attempts at sexual intercourse. The feminist theory variables that were included in the analyses were rape myth acceptance, benevolent sexism, and hostile sexism.

This research reveals the importance of the feminist theory variables in explaining rape. Although GST did not function in this study as hypothesized, this study also reveals that more research should be focused on negative emotional affect rather than anger with regard to rape, and that further research should be conducted to determine how and why coping strategies are associated with an increase in sexually coercive behavior.