COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Camille Gibson

TITLE: SEXISM, RELIGION, AND POLITICS: AN EXAMINATION OF RAPE MYTH ACCEPTANCE

ABSTRACT: The literature is inconclusive about the relationship between religion, politics, sexism, rape myth acceptance and the behavioral implications of the latter. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop an understanding of the relationship between religion, political affiliation, sexism and rape myth acceptance. The study utilized primary data collection through surveys of youth using MTurk. The survey involved the administration of the Moral Foundations Scale, Religious Fundamentalism Scale, Modern Sexism Scale, Ambivalent Sexism Scale, Gender Stereotypes Scale, and the Gender Inclusive Rape Myth Acceptance Scale. Data were be analyzed through structural equation modeling to indicate which political affiliations and major US religion adherence predict various gender stereotypes and or sexist beliefs which are also predictive of rape myth acceptance. It was expected that those youth who described being more religious and conservative politically tend to have an increase in sexism and in turn rape myth acceptance. Although previous research indicated that those who identify as Republican often hold stronger rape myth acceptance compared to Democrats (Conroy, 2019; & NRP, 2019), the current study was not able to confirm this difference between religion, political affiliations and rape myth acceptance. Possibly, the results of this study reflect too narrow a demographic or also possible is that more young adults are becoming less affiliated with their parents’ religious and political belief systems and are thinking differently from them on these issues. Nevertheless, the findings offer implications for correcting gender miseducation amongst youth toward holding perpetrators accountable, encouraging victims to pursue justice and to reduce instances of sexual victimization in religious organizations.

Keywords: Juvenile, sexual assault, religious affiliation, political affiliation.

Zoom Meeting: Don Clark, Room 332