142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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300947
Race, ethnicity, and differential perceptions of sexual assault

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 : 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Kaleea Lewis, MSPH , Arnold School of Public Health, Health Promotion Education and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Alyssa Robillard, PhD, CHES , Arnold School of Health, Health Promotion Education and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Deborah Billings, PhD , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Kellee White, PhD , Arnold School of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background
Racially influenced perceptions of sexual assault can shape the treatment of women of color who are sexual assault survivors. Differential responses to women of color can further stigmatize an already marginalized group. Studies examining differential perceptions of sexual assault victims on college campuses are limited.

Purpose
The purpose of this qualitative study was to ascertain how factors such as race and sexuality influence a sample of female college students’ perceptions of victim responsibility attributes, levels of trauma suffered, and levels of social support for a hypothetical victim of sexual assault.

Methods
This study used a phenomenology approach and structured open-ended questions. Participants (N=51) received a sexual assault vignette story-line randomly assigned to reflect a Latina, White, or African American female college student. The description of the victim was constructed around the jezebel stereotype. Data were inductively analyzed using a content and comparative analysis.

Results
Findings were stratified by race (hypothetical victim and participant). Results revealed instances of racism and overt victim blaming/shaming of the African American hypothetical victim. A comparative analysis illuminated distinct hypercritical inter (white participant/black victim) and intra (black participant/black victim) perceptions regarding social support and responsibility attributes, and trauma. White and African American participant perceptions were most severe for the African American victim.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Identify the different perceptions of an African American, White, or Latina survivor of sexual assault.

Keyword(s): College Students, Sexual Assault

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator and under the guidance of a faculty committee I completed this research to finalize my Masters degree coursework.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5084.0: Silence, secrets and survival: Sexual assault and intimate partner violence