Abstract
This study examined the relationship rape attitudes have to violations of consent in kissing. We found that the association between rape myth acceptance and responses to violations of consent in kissing was significant regardless of whether these violations took place within the context of a first date, long-term dating, or marriage. We also found that male subjects had higher rape myth acceptance than females and were more supportive of a man's right to violate a woman's consent in kissing. Finally, the association between gender and responses to forced kissing was significant independent of the context in which the forced kiss occurred.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barry, K. Female sexual slavery. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1979.
Bart, P. Rape as a pradigm of sexism in society — Victimization and its discontents. Women's Studies International Quarterly, 1986, 2, 347–357.
Briere, J., Malamuth, N. M., & Ceniti, J. Self-assessed rape proclivity: Attitudinal and sexual correlates. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association Meetings, Los Angeles, 1981.
Burt, M. Cultural myths and supports for rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1980, 38, 217–230.
Check, J. V. P., & Malamuth, N. M. Feminism and rape in the 80's: Recent research findings. In P. Caplan, C. Larsen, & L. Cammaert (Eds.), Psychology changing for women. Montreal Eden Press Women's Publications, 1981.
Check, J. V. P., & Malamuth, N. M. Sex role stereotyping and reactions to depictions of stranger versus acquaintance rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1983, 45, 344–356.
Field, H. S., Attitudes toward rape: A comparative analysis of police, rapists, crisis counselors, and citizens. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978, 36, 156–179.
Finkelhor, D., & Yllo, K. License to rape. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1985.
Fischer, G. J. Hispanic and majority student attitudes toward forcible date rape as a function of differences in attitudes toward women. Sex Roles, 1987, 17, 93–101.
Giacopassi, D., & Dull, R. T. Gender and racial differences in the acceptance of rape myths within a college population. Sex Roles, 1986, 15, 63–75.
Giarrusso, R., Johnson, P., Goodchilds, J., & Zellman, G. Adolescents' cues and signals: Sex and assault. Paper presented at the Western Psychological Association Meeting, San Diego, CA, 1979.
Griffin, S. Rape: The all-American crime. Ramparts, 1971, 10, 26–35.
Hanmer, J. Violence and the social control of women. In G. Littlejohn (Ed.), Power and the state. Croon-Helm, 1977.
Hendrick, S., Hendrick, C., Slapion-Foote, M. J., & Foote, F. H. Gender differences in sexual attitudes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1985, 48, 1630–1642.
Jackson, S. The social context of rape: Sexual scripts and motivation. Women's Studies International Quarterly, 1978, 1, 27–38.
Kanin, E. J. Male aggression in dating-courtship relations. American Journal of Sociology, 1957, 63, 197–204.
Kanin, E. J. Date rape: Unofficial criminals and victims. Victimology, 1984, 9, 95–108.
Kirkpatrick, C., & Kanin, E. J. Male sexual aggression on a university campus. American Sociological Review, 1957, 22, 52–58.
Koss, M. P., Leonard, K. E., Breazley, D. A., & Oros, C. J. Non-stranger aggression: A discriminant analysis of psychological dimensions. Sex Roles, 1985, 12, 981–992.
Levine, E. M., & Kanin, E. J. Sexual violence among dates and acquaintances: Trends and their implications for marriage and family. Journal of Family Violence, 1987, 2, 55–65.
Mahoney, E. R. Human sexuality. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983.
Malamuth, N. M. Rape proclivity among males. Journal of Social Issues, 1981, 37, 138–157.
Margolin, L., Moran, P. B., & Miller, M. Social approval for violations of sexual consent in marriage and dating. Violence and Victims, 1989, 4, 45–55.
Medea, A., & Thompson, K. Against rape. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1974.
Robinson, I. E., & Jedlicka, D. Change in sexual attitudes and behavior of college students from 1965 tyo 1980: A research note. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1982, 44, 237–240.
Russell, D. E. H. The politics of rape. New York: Stein & Day, 1975.
Russell, D. E. H. Rape in marriage. New York: Stein & Day, 1982.
Russell, D. E. H. Sexual exploitation. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1984.
Shaver, K. Defensive attribution: Effects of severity and relevance on the responsibility assigned for an accident. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1970, 14, 101–113.
Weis, K., & Borges, S. Victimology and rape: The case of the legitimate victim. Issues in Criminology, 1973, 8, 71–115.
Weis, K., & Weis, S. Victimology and justification of rape. In I. Drapkin, & E. Viano (Eds.), Victimology: A new focus, Vol. 5. Lexington, MA: Heath, 1975.
Weitz, R. What price independence? Social reactions to lesbians, spinsters, widows, and nuns. In J. Freeman (Ed.), Women: A feminist perspective. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield, 1984.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Margolin, L., Miller, M. & Moran, P.B. When a kiss is not just a kiss: Relating violations of consent in kissing to rape myth acceptance. Sex Roles 20, 231–243 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287721
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287721