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Behavioral Sciences
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Sexual Violence on College Campus
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Sexual Violence on College Campus

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2018) | Viewed by 57906

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Raquel Kennedy Bergen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Professor of Sociology, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
Interests: violence against women; rape in marriage; sexual violence in intimate partnerships; dating violence; violence on college campus
Prof. Dr. George W. Dowdall

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Professor of Sociology, emeritus, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA; Adjunct Fellow, College for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
Interests: mental health; substance use; college drinking; violence on college campus; research methods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sexual violence on college campus remains a critical social problem. In the United States, despite the passage of legislation, prevention efforts, and educational programming, sexual violence on college campus continues to garner near constant media attention. The passage of the Clery Act, the publication of the Dear Colleague letter by the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, and recent changes and reauthorizations to the Violence Against Women Act, have increasingly focused the spotlight of public attention on college campuses and how effective they are in addressing the problem of sexual violence. This has led to a growth in prevention efforts, awareness raising campaigns and efforts to educate students about healthy relationships and challenge social norms regarding sexual violence on campus. While there has been an expansive body of scholarly literature published over the past three decades, there continues to be serious debate about the prevalence of the problem and best practices to address this serious public health problem. This special issue will explore the current state of knowledge within the field. What do we know about best practices? How can we challenge existing social norms? What are the experiences of sexual violence among students in diverse groups and college settings? This special issue will address the most recent scientific findings regarding the prevalence, prevention and challenges of sexual violence on college campus.

This special issue will focus on the current state of scientific knowledge about sexual violence on college campus. This is a serious social and public health problem in the United States. Despite the media attention this problem receives, there is little empirically known about prevention and best practices. This special issue will focus on this issue, what our current state of knowledge is and future directions for making college campuses safer.

Prof. Dr. Raquel Kennedy Bergen
Prof. Dr. George W. Dowdall
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Sexual violence
  • College campus
  • Bystander intervention
  • Sexual assault
  • Date rape
  • Intimate Partner Sexual Violence
  • Prevalence
  • Prevention
  • Title IX
  • Clery Act
  • Violence Against Women

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 10134 KiB  
Article
What Does It Mean to Be a Young African Woman on a University Campus in Times of Sexual Violence? A New Moment, a New Conversation
by Astrid Treffry-Goatley, Naydene De Lange, Relebohile Moletsane, Nkonzo Mkhize and Lungile Masinga
Behav. Sci. 2018, 8(8), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8080067 - 26 Jul 2018
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6617
Abstract
Sexual violence in the higher education is an epidemic of global proportions. Scholars conclude that the individual and collective silence that surrounds such violence enables its perpetration and that violence will only be eradicated when we break this silence. In this paper, we [...] Read more.
Sexual violence in the higher education is an epidemic of global proportions. Scholars conclude that the individual and collective silence that surrounds such violence enables its perpetration and that violence will only be eradicated when we break this silence. In this paper, we used two participatory visual methods (PVM), collage and storytelling, to explore what sexual violence at university looks like and what it means to woman students. Two groups of student teachers in two South African universities were engaged in collage and storytelling workshops in late 2017 and early 2018, respectively. We thematically analyzed the issues that emerged from the data, drawing on transformative learning theory to explore how our approach might help women students to break the silence around sexual violence and stimulate critical dialogue to address it. Our analysis suggests that these visual tools enabled deep reflections on the meaning and impact of sexual violence, particularly for women. In addition, the participatory process supported introspection about their experiences of sexual violence and their responses to it as bystanders in and around campus. More importantly, they discussed how they, as young women, might break the silence and sustain new conversations about gender and gender equality in institutions and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Violence on College Campus)
10 pages, 212 KiB  
Article
“Good Guys Don’t Rape”: Greek and Non-Greek College Student Perpetrator Rape Myths
by Taylor Martinez, Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley, Kristen N. Jozkowski and Jennifer Becnel
Behav. Sci. 2018, 8(7), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8070060 - 27 Jun 2018
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 11267
Abstract
The current study examined sexual assault perpetrator rape myths among college students, and in particular Greek students. Fraternity men are overrepresented among sexual assault perpetrators, while sorority women are at increased risk for victimization of sexual assault. The current study examined Greek-affiliated and [...] Read more.
The current study examined sexual assault perpetrator rape myths among college students, and in particular Greek students. Fraternity men are overrepresented among sexual assault perpetrators, while sorority women are at increased risk for victimization of sexual assault. The current study examined Greek-affiliated and non-Greek-affiliated perceptions of perpetrator rape myths among 892 college students; 58% of the sample was Greek-affiliated. Men and Greek-affiliated students reported higher agreement on stereotypes than women and non-Greek-affiliated students regarding perpetrator rape myths. Specifically, fraternity men reported higher stereotypical perceptions compared to all women and non-affiliated men, while there was no difference between sorority and non-affiliated women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Violence on College Campus)
14 pages, 262 KiB  
Article
Violence Exposure and Mental Health of College Students in the United States
by Shervin Assari and Maryam Moghani Lankarani
Behav. Sci. 2018, 8(6), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8060053 - 24 May 2018
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7809
Abstract
Background: Despite the well-established link between exposure to violence and mental health problems, less is known about this association among college students. The current study aimed to investigate the association between history of exposure to violence and mental health of American college [...] Read more.
Background: Despite the well-established link between exposure to violence and mental health problems, less is known about this association among college students. The current study aimed to investigate the association between history of exposure to violence and mental health of American college students. Methods: Healthy Mind Study (HMS, 2016–2017) is a national online survey of 41,898 adult college students. The independent variable was lifetime history of exposure to violence (psychological, physical, and sexual). The dependent variables were anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Race, age, gender, sexual orientation, parental education, financial stress, transfer status, enrollment status, and graduate status were covariates. Linear and logistic regression models were used for data analysis. Results: History of exposure to violence was associated with all three aspects of poor mental health, namely general anxiety, depression, and suicidality. These associations were independent of covariates and type of abuse. Conclusions: There is a need to address various mental health needs of college students who have experienced various forms of violence. College students who screen positive for history of violence exposure should be evaluated for anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Violence on College Campus)
14 pages, 232 KiB  
Article
The Role of Title IX Coordinators on College and University Campuses
by Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley and James DiLoreto
Behav. Sci. 2018, 8(4), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8040038 - 5 Apr 2018
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 13700
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to better understand the role of Title IX coordinators and their policies across four-year universities and two-year community colleges in the United States (U.S.). There is little information regarding Title IX coordinators’ training, background, and policies on [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to better understand the role of Title IX coordinators and their policies across four-year universities and two-year community colleges in the United States (U.S.). There is little information regarding Title IX coordinators’ training, background, and policies on how they handle Title IX investigations regarding sexual violence. The data come from an online survey that included 692 Title IX coordinators across four-year (private and public) and two-year campuses and represented 42 different states in the US. The current study found that most Title IX coordinators were in part-time positions with less than three years of experience. Most of the coordinators and their investigators were trained in Title IX policies. Most coordinators provide Title IX training for their students and faculty, and most have completed a campus climate survey; however, 15% had not completed a survey. The findings suggest that the majority of campuses are continuing to increase their Title IX visibility; however, there are several recommendations for campuses to improve their policies. The current study was able to shed light on how Title IX coordinators do their jobs and the role they play in helping with the challenging issues surrounding sexual violence at institutions across the nation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Violence on College Campus)

Review

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 610 KiB  
Review
Exploring Definitions and Prevalence of Verbal Sexual Coercion and Its Relationship to Consent to Unwanted Sex: Implications for Affirmative Consent Standards on College Campuses
by Brandie Pugh and Patricia Becker
Behav. Sci. 2018, 8(8), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8080069 - 2 Aug 2018
Cited by 52 | Viewed by 17580
Abstract
Campus sexual assault is a pervasive issue impacting the well-being, quality of life, and education of all students. There have been many recent efforts to prevent and address campus sexual assault, most notably the adoption of affirmative consent standards. (1) Efforts to address [...] Read more.
Campus sexual assault is a pervasive issue impacting the well-being, quality of life, and education of all students. There have been many recent efforts to prevent and address campus sexual assault, most notably the adoption of affirmative consent standards. (1) Efforts to address sexual assault on college campuses through an affirmative consent standard could be undermined by traditional gender norms, sexual scripts, and the power dynamics inherent in heterosexual relations, which lead to situations in which many women provide consent to unwanted sex. (2) Studies indicate that college women are likely to experience verbal sexual coercion, yet research has failed to come to a consensus on how to define, operationalize, and study verbal sexual coercion. (3) Research on sexual consent is also lacking, in particular as it relates to consent to unwanted sex as a result of the presence of verbal sexual coercion. (4) This article discusses how multiple forms of unwanted sex can be conceptually examined. (5) Policy implications and areas for future research are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Violence on College Campus)
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