A qualitative assessment of “The Men’s Program:” The impact of a rape prevention program on fraternity men

This qualitative study examined the impact of an all-male rape prevention program on fraternity men. Seven months after participating in “The Men’s Program,” fraternity men were asked whether during the previous year the program impacted their attitude or behavior and if so what about the program led to that change. Results point to the importance of establishing empathy with rape survivors to increase men’s awareness and sensitivity to rape. Research conducted during the 1980s showed that 15 % of college women in a nationwide sample from 32 colleges and universities reported at least one experience since their fourteenth birthday that met the legal definition of rape (Koss, Gidycz, & Wisniewski, 1987). An additional 12 % had experienced attempted rape without penetra-tion. A more recent replication study using a survey of more than 4,600 college students at 136 institutions found that 20 % of college women reported being forced to have sexual intercourse against their John D. Foubert, PhD is the assistant dean of students at the University of Virginia; and Sharon A. La Voy, PhD is an assessment specialist at the University o