Cyber-Sexism and Sexual Assault: Impact and a Step Towards Intervention
Authors: Skinner, R.
Conference: Bournemouth University, Faculty of Science and Technology
Abstract:An individual’s sexism and exposure to sexism has been associated with higher propensity to rape, and higher victim blame attribution in sexual violence cases. There is little literature focussed on whether cyber sexism can have the same effect as offline sexism. The aim of this thesis is to examine the impact of cyber sexism on individuals on performance and attitudes toward rape. It aims to develop an effective cyber intervention for sexism. Furthermore, this thesis will contribute to this literature by first addressing the gap in how cyber sexism is perceived attitudinally, whether known effects of sexism on performance and perceptions of sexual assault can be triggered with cyber sexism. Finally, the thesis will research whether a novel online based social norm intervention for sexism is feasible and efficient, with a focus on sexism and Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA). Seven studies found that whilst online sexism is not highly tolerated on a personal level, the issue of freedom of speech in online spaces and context plays a large role in determining tolerance of it. Cyber sexism failed to trigger Stereotype Threat in women, nor did it directly impact blame attribution within sexual assault scenarios. Interesting results were found when considering pre-existing sexism within participants, such as sexism playing a significant role in determining if a perpetrator has been falsely accused of rape. This thesis culminates in an investigation into how participants define rape, related to RMA, with development and trial of a social norm based online intervention that targets participant sexism and RMA. Whilst recruitment retention was problematic, initial results appear promising for this cost-effective method of reducing both sexism and RMA. Future lines of research include using mixed methodologies to develop a more in-depth perspective on the impact of cyber sexism, with a focus on long- term exposure effects and further development of the norm-based intervention.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/37604/
Source: Manual
Cyber-Sexism and Sexual Assault: Impact and a Step Towards Intervention.
Authors: Skinner, R.
Conference: Bournemouth University
Abstract:An individual’s sexism and exposure to sexism has been associated with higher propensity to rape, and higher victim blame attribution in sexual violence cases. There is little literature focussed on whether cyber sexism can have the same effect as offline sexism. The aim of this thesis is to examine the impact of cyber sexism on individuals on performance and attitudes toward rape. It aims to develop an effective cyber intervention for sexism. Furthermore, this thesis will contribute to this literature by first addressing the gap in how cyber sexism is perceived attitudinally, whether known effects of sexism on performance and perceptions of sexual assault can be triggered with cyber sexism. Finally, the thesis will research whether a novel online based social norm intervention for sexism is feasible and efficient, with a focus on sexism and Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA). Seven studies found that whilst online sexism is not highly tolerated on a personal level, the issue of freedom of speech in online spaces and context plays a large role in determining tolerance of it. Cyber sexism failed to trigger Stereotype Threat in women, nor did it directly impact blame attribution within sexual assault scenarios. Interesting results were found when considering pre-existing sexism within participants, such as sexism playing a significant role in determining if a perpetrator has been falsely accused of rape. This thesis culminates in an investigation into how participants define rape, related to RMA, with development and trial of a social norm based online intervention that targets participant sexism and RMA. Whilst recruitment retention was problematic, initial results appear promising for this cost-effective method of reducing both sexism and RMA. Future lines of research include using mixed methodologies to develop a more in-depth perspective on the impact of cyber sexism, with a focus on long- term exposure effects and further development of the norm-based intervention.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/37604/
Source: BURO EPrints