Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy

ISSN: 0092-623X (Print) 1521-0715 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/usmt20

Coercive sexual behavior among MexicanAmerican college students John E. Kiernan & Vincent L. Taylor To cite this article: John E. Kiernan & Vincent L. Taylor (1990) Coercive sexual behavior among Mexican-American college students, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 16:1, 44-50, DOI: 10.1080/00926239008405965 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00926239008405965

Published online: 14 Jan 2008.

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Coercive Sexual Behavior Among Mexican-American College Students Downloaded by [NUS National University of Singapore] at 13:59 05 November 2015

J O H N E . K I E R N A N A N D V I N C E N T I-. T A Y L O R

This study investigales the self-reported occurrences of coercive sexual behavior among Mexican-American college students and compares the results with Anglo-American college students. College class standing, income, totul number i n the household, the presence of male siblings, and age were used as independent variables. T w o hundred and fortytwo female college students (53 % Mexican-American, 47% AngloAmerican), f r o m introductory psychology classes compleled a survey concerning violence occumng i n dating situations. Being the victim of date rape was reported by I I .4% of the Mexican-American students, while Anglo-Americans reporled 16.4% incidence, this was not a statistically significant difference. Unwanted sexual advances, olher than intercourse, were reported by 36.6% of all female respondents, and 48.8% had experienced at least one kind of physical violence or threat in dating situalions. Similarities with other researchers’ findings and implications are reported.

Rape is a heinous act of violence a n d aggression, it evokes a strong emotional response. T h e victim is often physically traumatized, and more often psychologically injured, requiring much longer to recover. T h e most common emotional response of the date rape victim is guilt.:’ Amir? introduced the term “acquaintance rape” in his research describing the offender as an acquaintance, date, employer, or a relative known to the victim. Various researchers have reported that between one-third and one-half of rapes a n d attempted rapes occur among acquaintance^.^. ’ Miller and Marshall’” used the term “date rape” to describe a n interaction that begins between a man and a woman in the context of a social event or gathering a n d ends with one participant forcing the other to participatc in sexual activity against his o r her will. In this study, date rape was defined as a dating partner having engaged in sexual intercourse against the will of the respondent. Unwanted sexual advances included kissing A u t h o r s are listed in alphabetical order with equal contribution toward this projert. Send all c-orrespondencet o Vincent L. Taylor. PhD, Community Clinic. Iric., 2 10 West Olmos. San Antonio, T X 78212.

Journal of Sex 8c Marital Therapy, Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 1990, BrunnedMazel, Inc. .14

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Coercive Sexual Behauior Among Mexican-American College Students

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or touching for sexual arousal, threatening to sexually assault, and engaging in oral sex against the will of the respondent. Physical violence in a dating situation was defined as being pushed, slapped, punched, kicked, bitten, beaten, having an object thrown at them in anger, being assaulted with a knife or a gun, and the threat to commit any of the behaviors on the previous list. T h e incidence of date rape and other coercive sexual behavior has been investigated extensively by researchers in the last 30 years, with reported findings of 8-25% occurrence of date rape among female college students, and u p to 77.6%having experienced some form of violence in a dating situation."-21 Russell18also reported that more women had been raped by dates and boyfriends than by strangers. N o published literature was found investigating the incidence of violence in dating situations among Mexican Americans, although many studies stated Mexican-Americans were disregarded or were combined with others as a nonmajority group due to small sample size. With this in mind, the purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in the self-reported incidence of date rape and other dating violence by Mexican-American students and Anglo-American college students, with a hypothesis that no difference will be found. In addition to race, the demographic characteristics of income, class standing, presence of male siblings, household size, and age were examined to detect potential differences in victimization.

METHOD

Subjects Volunteers were sought among students in 25 introductory psychology classes, at a university in the southwestern United States. Two hundred and forty-three females were given the survey; 232 completed it sufficiently for analysis. Ten subjects either chose not to participate in the study or left out necessary information and were not included. T h e subjects were classified as 60% freshman, 25% sophomore, 7%juniors, and 3% seniors. For analysis, classification was divided into freshmen and upperclassmen due to sparse numbers of upperclassmen at the junior, senior and graduate levels. On ethnic background 53% of the subjects were Mexican-American. and 47% were Anglo-American. Ages ranged = 23. Family income was classified into three from 17 to 55, with groups 0-20K = 28%, 2 1 4 0 K = 36%, 2 4 1 K = 25%, with 1 1 % unreported. Household size was reported into three categories S 3 = 16%, 4-5 = SO%, and 6 + = 34%. Thirty-five percent reported not having any male siblings; 65% reported having one or more brothers living at home.

x

Instruments A survey adapted from the Gelles22spousal abuse checklist was used in this study. T h e survey consisted of demographic items (gender, race,

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Journal of Sex fi3 Marital Therapy, Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 1990

age, year in college, family income, and family composition) and two sections dealing with various levels of violence a dating partner may have done to the respondent, or the respondent may have done to a dating partner. For this study, only the responses to the items asking if a dating partner had engaged in violent dating behavior with the respondent against the respondent’s will are reported.

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Procedure Permission from the various department heads or instructors was obtained, and arrangements were made to go to the various introductory psychology classes during regular meeting times to administer the questionnaire. Introductory Psychology was chosen since it was a popular course for the general studies social science degree plan requirement. Instructions were given orally prior to distribution of the questionnaire. Potential subjects were informed that a research project was being conducted on experiences they may or may not have had in dating situations. Their participation was completely voluntary and anonymous and that no compensation would be given. T h e questionnaire was distributed to all class members present. They were informed that there were 34 items, the first 17 dealt with behaviors a dating partner may have done to them, and the last 17 dealt with what they may have done to a dating partner. To insure privacy and hopefully to enhance honesty in responses, the subjects were told the instruments would be picked up individually by the researcher so classmates would not be seeing the responses. Further, the subjects and the researchers were unknown to each other and no names were used on the questionnaire. If class members present chose not to participate, they were told to return the questionnaire blank when the others were being collected. T h e participants were told a copy of the report of the results of the research project would be made available to their instructors and to consult them if interested.

RESULTS Several measures of dating violence against females were used as dependent variables in this study. First, women were asked if they had ever been forced to have sexual intercourse by a dating partner. Using chisquare analysis, comparisons were made between the ages, incomes, number of male siblings living at home, total number of people living in the household, college classification, and ethnicity concerning whether the woman had been raped by a date. Table 1 contains these results. Of the total population, 12.9% had been raped by a date. However, as can be seen in Table 1, no significant differences were apparent on any of the independent variables. A second dependent variable concerning sexual force used on dates _ excluding _ intercourse was constructed. Examples of such force include kissing or sexual touch against a partner’s will. Again chi-square analysis

Coercive Sexual Behavior Among Mexican-Amm'can College Students

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TABLE 1 Date Rape Incidence Among College Females Independent Variables

df

X2

P

Age Income Male siblings Household size College class Ethnicity

1 2 2 2 I 1

1.39 1.69 .13 .64 3.46 .83

.22 .43 .94

.73 .06 .36

TABLE 2 Differences in Unsolicited Sexual Advances Among College Females Independent Variables

df

X2

P

Age Income Male siblings Household size College class Ethnicity

1 2 2 2 1 1

2.27 .26 23 1.40 .03 .94

.13 .88 .89 .50 .96 .33

TABLE 3 Differences in Physical Violence on Dates Among College Females Independent Variables Age Income Male siblings Household size College class Ethnicity

df

XZ

P

1

2.64 2.38 4.58 .17 .19 .2 1

.I0

2 2

2 1 1

.so .10 .92 .65 .65

was used to examine differences on our previously listed independent variables. Table 2 contains these results. Of the total population, 36.6% had experienced unwanted sexual advances other than intercourse. As can be seen from Table 3, no significant differences occurred on any of the independent variables. Next a dependent variable was constructed out of 13 questions indicating nonsexual physical violence which occurred on dates. Examples include slapping, threats with guns or knives, kicking, etc. Again the list of independent variables was examined for differences in incidenGe among categories. Table 3 reports these results. Of the total population of female college students, 48.8% had experienced at least one kind of

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Journal of Sex U Marital Therapy, Vol. 16, N o . I , Spring 1990

physical violence or threat of violence in dating situations. None of the independent variables achieved significant differences on dating violence. However, there was a strong trend toward lower incidence of dating violence where three or more brothers were in the family.

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DISCUSSION T h e hypotheses that no difference would be found between MexicanAmerican and Anglo-American college students was supported by the results of this study. T h e incident rates of this project were consistent with those of other researchers” -zl although previously little information was published concerning coercive sexual experience and MexicanAmericans. Although these data fell within the previously reported range on incidents among general populations, there is a very wide difference of rates within the literature. However, the importance of these findings is that violence in dating situations appears to be a universal problem plaguing college campusesz3regardless of ethnic background. Our finding of a strong trend toward lower incidence of dating violence where male siblings were present in the home is consistent with Kanin.z4 He hypothesized that older brothers may provide insight and clues into the male culture and thus render the younger female more alert to erotic aggression and the tactics of exploitation. T h e implication is that older brothers may be responsible for implanting more caution in their younger sisters, or, with the greater understanding of male expectations, there may be more tolerance of aggression and the females may be less prone to report the violence. Although this notion was tested, it was not statistically supported at significant levels. RoarkZ5suggests that institutions may create victims by commission (through policies and actions) and by omission (through denial or neglect). Bogal-Allbritten 8c Allbrittenz3report the problem of dating violence to be perceived as of greater magnitude by students than it was by university administrators. T h e problem of violent dating behavior has been receiving a lot of attention in the popular press. A T V show “Against Her WilP” was recently aired, and colleges were urged to require students to learn something about dating violence. This would be one direct step in preventing its occurrence on campus. Students can be taught how to avoid dating violence through reexamining their attitudes about each other .z6 Rape prevention programs around the country have focused on increased security on campus, improved lighting, emergency phones, extort services, and self-defense training. Considering that on college campuses a female student is more likely to be victimized by a date o r a b ~ y f r i e n d , ’efforts ~ to educate and increase awareness of this problem and programs aimed at improving communication between students may be more efficient allocations of resources. Puigzs describes a program to enhance awareness of the problem of dating violence within the college community. T h e following suggestions were presented in Winthe@ as possible ways for a female college student to avoid becoming a victim of dating violence:

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1) Know the man; avoid men who show no respect for women. 2) You o w e him nothing other than a thank you. 3) On a first date, avoid risky situations.

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4) Make sure someone else knows where you are. 5) Stay sober; drink in moderation, and avoid mixing drinks. 6) Trust your instinct; if you d o not like something, let him know. 7) Be assertive; say what you mean and mean what you say. 8) Do not be afraid to run or scream. There are several limitations of this study and caution should be used in interpreting the results. This was a preliminary inquiry of the incidence of violent dating behavior among Mexican-American college students. Further research is suggested utilizing random sample designs and an examination of variance between Mexican-Americans with different backgrounds as well as between Mexican-Americans and Anglo-Americans.

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experimentally based causal model of the perception of rape in a dating situation. SOCPsychol Q 46:220-232, 1983. 20. Wilson W, Durrenberger R: Comparison of rape and attempted rape victims. Psychol

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Rep 50: 198, 1982. 2 1 . Yegidis B: Date rape and other forced sexual encounters among college students. J Sex Ed Ther 12(2):51-34, 1986. 22. Gelles RJ: The iiiolent home: A study of physical aggression between husbands and wives, Beverly Hills, Sage, 1972.

23. Bogal-Allbritten RB, Allbritten WL: T h e hidden victims: Courtship violence among college students. J Coll Stud P e n 26(3):201-204. 1985. 24. Kanin EJ: Male aggression in dating-courtship relations. Amer J Sociol 6 3 :197-204, 1957. 23. Roark ML: Preventing violence on college campuses. Special issue: Counseling and violence. J Cou?tse~Dev 65(7):367-371, 1987. 26. Winther J (Producer, Director): “Against her will.” Liferime Television Network, 1989. 27. Meyer T: Date rape: A serious campus problem that few talk about. Chroniclv Higher Ed Dec 5, I , 2, 1985. 28. Puig A: Predomestic strife: A growing college concern.,/ Coll SlunPers25(3):L)68-269, 1984.

Coercive sexual behavior among Mexican-American college students.

This study investigates the self-reported occurrences of coercive sexual behavior among Mexican-American college students and compares the results wit...
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