Stigmatic effects of rape

Some clinical and attitudinal issues of rape victim stigmatization are addressed in two studies. The clinical study provides figures for occurrence of sexual abuse and rape based on naturally occurring data obtained from the clinical records of 265 women admitted to two South African inpatient psychiatric units during 1987-1990. Of the total sample, 26.4% had a recorded history of sexual assault as children andfor adults. Analyses performed on subsamples (i.e., annual admissions to each unit) provided some higher figures, ranging from 29-37% in 1989 and 1990. Results are discussed in relation to prevalence findings reported elsewhere and to methodological issues. Representative extracts from the clinical records are presented to illustrate women's experiences of stigmatic effects of sexual assault. The attitudinal study utilised vignette methodology to investigate whether gender and previous sexual assault experience affected the degree to which stigmatizing attitudes towards rape victims were endorsed. A secondary objective was to examine psychometric evidence for a proposed three-dimensional model of stigma. Subjects were 100 young, white male and female South African university and teacher training college students. The vignette depicted an acquaintance rape scenario. The dependent variable was an 18-item Likert format stigma scale with items chosen to illustrate three dimensions of stigma: victim devaluation, social disruption and secrecy. The mean total stigma score for the sample was 70.94 which fell just outside the stigmatizing response range stigmatizing range= 72-108). (stigma scale range = 18-108, Eight of the eighteen stigma items elicited stigma-endorsing responses. There was no overall gender effect. Previous sexual assault experience had a weak but positive influence on the degree of victim stigmatization. The negative trend of the results was explained primarily in terms of sample variables and methodological issues. Psychometric data provided equivocal support for the scale's hypothesized dimensionality. Small sample size was a likely complicating factor. Clinically evident stigmatic effects are discussed in terms of their implications for levels of disclosure and help seeking, for the quality of care and understanding a rape victim can expect, and for her self-perception and self-esteem. Implications for clinical intervention with victims of rape are also considered.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Deborah

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Levett, Ann

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13543

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13543