Understanding Rape Myth Acceptance Through the Lens of Sexual Objectification Theory

The Role of Pornography Consumption, Purchase of Sexual Services, and Masculinity

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6457601
AutoresCarmen M Leon (0000-0002-0591-6056, University of Castilla-La Mancha, autor correspondente), Eva Aizpurua (0000-0001-7045-5535, National Centre for Social Research), Tatiana Quiñonez-Toral (0000-0003-0232-559X, University of Castilla-La Mancha), Chiara Rollero (0000-0002-3194-4587, University of Turin)
Ano2025
Volume62
Fascículo9
Páginas1892-1904
Data de publicação2025-01-07
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe Journal of Sex Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0022-4499 • E-ISSN: 1559-8519
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00224499.2024.2446635
PMID39773254
OpenAlexW4406147783
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas58

Sexual Objectification Theory posits that exposure to objectifying content, such as pornography, the purchase of sexual services, and adherence to traditional masculinity, can contribute to the acceptance of harmful beliefs about sexual violence. This study examined the relationship between rape myth acceptance and a range of attitudinal and personal factors using a sample of 1,603 internet users in Spain (51.6% women, M = 45.7 years old). The outcome variable was rape myth acceptance (α = .79), and the correlates included various forms of pornography consumption, purchasing sexual services, ambivalent sexism, comfort with sexuality, gender identification, and sociodemographic characteristics. The results indicate that rape myth acceptance was generally low (M = 2.03, range 1-5) and was associated with some sociodemographic characteristics, pornography consumption, ambivalent sexism, and comfort with sexuality. Ambivalent sexism, comfort with sexuality, and gender were the strongest predictors of rape myth acceptance, while pornography consumption had a limited impact on endorsing such beliefs. These findings provide insights into the factors influencing rape myth acceptance and offer guidance for developing policies to combat rape culture

Ambivalence · Consumption (sociology · Human sexuality · Masculinity · Objectification · Personality · Political science · Pornography · Sensation Seeking · Sociology · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology