Racial Bias in Perceptions of Sexual Violence
Open Access
- Author:
- Renee, Teara
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Theresa K Vescio, Thesis Supervisor
Jeff M Love, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- sexual violence
sexual harassment
intersectionality
dehumanization
racial bias
sexualization
Sexual Violence
Sexual Harassment
Intersectionality
Dehumanization
Racial Bias
Sexualization - Abstract:
- Sexual violence against women is highly prevalent in our world today. Black women are particularly at an increased risk for experiencing sexual harassment. Drawing from theories of intersectionality, dehumanization, contemporary racial bias, the current research explores the emergence of racial bias in perceptions of harm caused by sexual harassment. Across both studies, harm is significantly associated to perceptions of target credibility, victim blaming, perception of incident as sexual harassment and support for perpetrator punishment. Contrary to predictions, study 1 found no effects approached significance when it came to racial bias in perceptions of harm resulting from claims of sexual harassment when women wear sexualized (vs. non-sexualized) clothing. Study 2 also found no effects approached significance when it came to racial bias in perceptions of harm resulting from claims of sexual harassment when women strippers work in working class (vs. upscale) establishments. Both studies presented a significant main effect of participant gender: Compared to men, women were more believing and supportive of women’s claims of sexual harassment.