Rape Myth Acceptance, Gender Roles, and Sexual Conservatism: An Intergenerational Study of Mothers and Daughters in Religious and Secular Communities

This study examines the relationships between rape myth acceptance (RMA), traditional gender roles, sexual conservatism, and belief in a just world among Jewish mothers and daughters in Israel, comparing religious and secular communities. A total of 151 mother-daughter pairs (76 religious, 75 secular) participated. Regression and path analyses were conducted to explore intergenerational transmission of gender and sexual attitudes. Findings indicate that religious women endorse more traditional gender roles, sexual conservatism, and RMA than secular women, with mothers generally holding more conservative attitudes than daughters. However, intergenerational differences were more pronounced in religious groups, suggesting exposure to global and pluralistic values among younger religious women. Path analysis revealed that mothers’ RMA mediated the transmission of conservative gender attitudes to their daughters. These findings highlight the role of familial socialization and societal exposure in shaping attitudes toward gender and sexual violence. The study underscores the need for targeted educational interventions to challenge rape myths and promote gender equality, especially in conservative societies.