Does entitlement mediate the link between masculinity and rape-related variables?

Previous research has found masculine gender roles to predict rape-related behaviors and attitudes, but there is some ambiguity in the literature regarding the mechanisms of these associations. Further, theoretical literature has suggested repeatedly that men's sense of entitlement to women is crucial in understanding rape-related behaviors and attitudes. On the basis of these 2 bodies of literature, we speculated that men's sense of entitlement may be an important 3rd variable partially driving the relations between masculine gender roles and rape-related variables. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine the relations among entitlement, rape-related behaviors and attitudes, and masculine gender roles. More specifically, the authors used path analyses to test a conceptual model whereby entitlement mediated the links between masculine gender roles and 4 rape-related variables. Results revealed that men's sense of general and sexual entitlement completely mediated the relations between masculinity and rape-related attitudes and behaviors in 3 of the 4 models and partially in the 4th.