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Attitudes Toward Rape and Victims of Rape

A Test of the Feminist Theory in Ghana

University of Cambridge

This study explores the usefulness of the feminist theory in explaining attitudes toward rape and victims of rape in Ghana. The feminist theory of rape posits, inter alia, that patriarchy and gender inequality are major factors in the aetiology of rape and attitudes toward rape and that underlying patriarchy and gender inequality are gender stereotypes and false beliefs (myths) about rape, rapists, and victims of rape. Thus, the theory suggests a relationship between rape myths and less favorable attitudes toward rape and victims of rape. Results from a survey conducted in Ghana show some support for the feminist theory of rape: There is evidence of rape myth acceptance in Ghana; gender is significant in predicting levels of rape myth acceptance; and finally, education or profession and age, but not religion, are associated with levels of rape myth acceptance in a predictable way.

Key Words: feminist theory • rape • rape myth • patriarchy • Ghana

This version was published on October 1, 2009

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 24, No. 10, 1633-1651 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0886260509331493


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