Women's Beliefs About Women Who “Lead Men on”

This study investigated the attitudes and experiences of women who believe that “leading a man on” justifies rape. Participants were 206 female undergraduates who were identified as either low, medium, or high in the degree to which they held this belief. Participants read one of two stories about a woman who behaved either “suggestively” or “modestly” on a date that ended with her being raped. They then answered questions concerning their attitudes toward the woman, the man, and the rape. Women in the high-belief group rated the rape as more justified; they rated the woman more negatively, including seeing her as more responsible for what happened; they were less likely to regard the incident as rape, especially if the woman had acted suggestively. Medium- and high-belief women were also more likely than low-belief women to have been involved in unwanted sexual intercourse obtained through verbal coercion. Thus this belief might increase the risk of sexual coercion if the woman feels that—or if the man convinces her that—she has led him on; this belief might also make it more likely that she will blame herself if sexual coercion occurs.