The Relationship between Sex, Coercive Behaviors, and Sexual Assault on a Southern Regional University

Sexual assault continues to be a problem in the United States and a major problem on college campuses. College women are four times more likely to experience rape than any other group in the nation (Burnett, A., Mattern, J. L., Herakova, L.L., Kahl, D. H., Tabola, C., & Bornsen, S. E., 2009). Unfortunately, limited research has addressed populations at southern regional universities. The current study has looked at various research and further examined college students specifically at a southern regional university. This study analyzed the rate of sexual assaults affiliated with coercive behaviors and biological sex. Undergraduate students were recruited from a medium-sized regional university located in the southern United States. Self-administered anonymous surveys were dispersed to collect this data. The population consisted of 1,386 students who could have potentially participated. A total sample of 889 students participated in the study. Courses were randomly selected. The self-administered, anonymous surveys constructed by the researchers collected information concerning undergraduate students’ sexual attitudes, behaviors, and experiences. Chi-square tests and cross tabulations were used to analyze the results of the surveys. The results of this study revealed that sexual assault does occur on southern regional university campuses. The study also showed that of those students who were sexually assaulted, coercive behaviors were used to engage in non-consensual sex. The results of this study indicate a need to educate college students about rape, the rape culture, and hyper-masculine tendencies. Colleges need to reverse the normative behaviors that accept sexual assault and educate students to recognize and report sexual assault.Chapter I: INTRODUCTION 1 The Problem 1 Purpose of Study 7 Research Questions 8 Research Hypotheses 9 Definition of Terms 9 Summary 13 Chapter II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE 14 Theory of Social Construction 17 Rape Culture 31 Sexual Assault and Rape 35 Sexual Coercion 38 A Need for Intervention and Prevention 42 Summary 44 Chapter III: METHODOLOGY 46 Procedure 49 Data Analysis 51 Research Questions 51 Research Hypothesis 52 Operational Definitions 52 Ethical Considerations 54 Validity 54 Summary 55 Chapter IV: RESULTS 57 Research Question One 57 Research Hypothesis One 57 Research Question Two 57 Research Hypothesis Two 58 Demographics 59 Variables 60 Hypothesis One 61 Hypothesis Two 63 Summary 67 Chapter V: DISCUSSION 69 Implications 70 Higher Education 75 Curriculum Implementation 76 Organization of Instruction 82 Methods of Instruction 84 Evaluation of Learner Achievement 85 Summary 85 Chapter VI: CONCLUSION, INTERPRETATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 86 Interpretations 88 Limitations of Study 89 Recommendations 89 REFERENCES 91 APPENDIX: Institutional Review Board Form 107Woodard-Meyers, TracyWoodard-Meyers, TracyWilfred, Shani P.Sewell, Donna N.Martinez, JamesEd.D.Curriculum and Instructio