Debunking the Myths: The context of unwanted sexual experiences Ellen S. Cohn, Mary M. Moynihan, Victoria L. Banyard, Wendy Walsh, and Sally Ward, University of New Hampshire Abstract A three-panel study (1988, 2000, 2006) of unwanted sexual experiences revealed that educators need to debunk the myths that the rapist is a “stranger jumping out of the bushes” and men are never victims. Findings show that perpetrators are most likely known to the victim and men do report victimizations. Goals and Objectives To understand the reality of myths about the context of unwanted sexual experiences. To understand differences in unwanted sexual experiences of male and female undergraduates. To understand differences across the three waves of the study. Method Participants 2006: 1242 undergraduates (795 women) 2000: 651 undergraduates (471 women) 1988: 524 undergraduates (524 women) Sample selection We randomly selected both lower level and upper level classes We contacted the instructors in all of the classes selected and requested time to administer the questionnaire to volunteers in the class We arranged a convenient time with each instructor Operationalization of Terms For the purposes of the study, the following definitions appeared on the surveys that participants filled out. The definitions and specific questions used to access victimization experiences were the same across all years of the study. Unwanted sexual experiences are those situations in which you were certain at the time that you did not want to engage in the sexual experience and you either communicated this in some what (e.g., you said no; you protested; you said you didn’t want to;’ you cried; etc.) or you were incapacitated (e.g;, drunk, passed out, etc.). Sexual contact includes attempting or actually kissing, fondling, or touching someone in a sexually intimate way, excluding sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse refers to any form of sexual penetration including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal intercourse. Materials questions about the number of incidents of unwanted sexual intercourse and unwanted sexual contact experienced context items about where and when the event took place, the use of alcohol and/or drugs by victims and perpetrators, and the victim and perpetrator relationship. Procedure In each year of the study, we collected information from students at the end of February. We arrived at each class at the convenient time indicated by the instructor. Students first completed an informed consent form. Students who agreed to participate answered questions about unwanted sexual contact or intercourse that had occurred since the beginning of the fall semester of that academic year. Implications for Research/Practice/Policy 1 Koss, M.P., Gidycz, C.A., & Wisniewski, N. (1987). The scope of rape: Incidence and prevalence sexual aggression and victimization in a national sample of higher education students. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, Banyard, V. L., Plante, E. G., Cohn, E. S., Ward, S., Moorhead, C., & Walsh, W. (2005). Revisiting unwanted sexual experiences on campus: A twelve-year follow-up. Violence against Women, 11, Fisher, B. S., Daigle, L. E., Cullen, F. T., Turner, M.G. (2003). Reporting sexual victimization to the police and others: Results from a national-level study of college women. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 30, Banyard, V. L., Moynihan, M. M, & Plante, E. G. (2007). Sexual violence prevention through bystander education: An experimental evaluation. Journal of Community Psychology, 35, Changes in incidence over time (See Figure 1) For women, there were significantly fewer incidents of unwanted sexual contact in both 2000 and 2006 than 1988 but no difference in incidents of unwanted sexual intercourse For men, there were no significant differences between 1988, 2000 or Changes in context over time (See Table 1) In 2006, the experience of sexual contact was similar for men and women, occurring where they lived, at social events, when the perpetrator and victim had been drinking, and when the perpetrator was an acquaintance In 2006, unwanted sexual intercourse for women (the number of men reporting was too low) occurred at parties with the victim and perpetrator using alcohol and the perpetrator being a friend/acquaintance Women reported that unwanted sexual contact occurred between dating or romantic partners in 1988 and 2000 versus friends and acquaintances in Men reported their unwanted contact occurred at parties, involved perpetrators who used alcohol and were friends/acquaintances. Research Collect more qualitative data about students’ experiences both as victims and/or perpetrators Compare data collected by in-person surveys versus internet surveys Practice/Policy Debunk the myth that most perpetrators are strangers Use prevention efforts to educate the community that most perpetrators are acquaintances of the victims Design new forms of prevention and intervention to to address the stable subset of incidents that seem resistant to traditional forms of prevention 4 Let students know that unwanted sexual experiences occur in a variety of times and places Make first year student the focus of intense prevention efforts because they are at high risk Focus prevention efforts throughout students’ college career Make students aware that men are also victims of unwanted sexual experiences Include men both as victims and bystanders in prevention efforts and services Introduction Most of the research which has investigated the incidence of unwanted sexual experiences has conducted cross-sectional research. 1 The purpose of the present study is to extend the panel study by Banyard and her colleagues. 2 The current study compares the incidence and the context of two kinds of unwanted sexual experiences (unwanted sexual intercourse, unwanted sexual contact) in data collected in 1988, 2000, and The context variables include where and when the incident took place, who did it, and what was his/her relationship to the victim. Findings/Conclusions Table 1: Percentage of Respondents Reporting Context Variable at Most Serious Incidence Women’s Unwanted Sexual Intercourse Women’s Unwanted Sexual Contact Men’s Unwanted Sexual Contact Where UNH residence Greek residence Off-camp residen Other When Date Party Social event Other Alcohol/drugs Perp used alcohol Victim used alcoh Perp used drugs Victim used drugs Who Stranger Friend/acquaintan Date/romantic part Other