An analysis of peoples' attitudes towards victims of sexual assault and the influence of social media.
Citation
(2016) An analysis of peoples' attitudes towards victims of sexual assault and the influence of social media., no. 55.
Abstract
Sexual assault is a worldwide phenomenon which happens across all cultures. Most
commonly affecting women, this issue has developed a range of differing views and
opinions towards the victims, particularly when investigating where the blame lies.
This research project explores male and female undergraduate student's attitudes
towards victims of sexual assault and the extent to which social media may have an
influence on these attitudes. Data was collected using focus groups with male and
female undergraduate students from Queen Margaret University and was analysed
using thematic analysis. Themes that emerged included the understanding and
interpretation of sexual assault, perpetrators, the way in which the victim portrays
herself, stigma attached to victims of sexual assault and social media. The findings
suggested that overall, male and female undergraduate students adopt a similar
viewpoint of victims of sexual assault. However, it can be suggested that the male
participants within the study adopted a light victim blaming attitude at certain points
within the focus group conversation. Participants believed that social media may
have a negative influence on people's attitudes of victims of sexual assault as well
as sexual assault in general due to the offensive and degrading nature of some of
the content found.