Gender Differences in Responses to Sexual Coercion

Abstract

Recent research has indicated that, although females comprise the majority of sexual assault victims, males may experience sexual coercion by a partner at a similar rate. This study of 734 college undergraduate students explores not only the frequency of sexual coercion victimization but the emotional responses to it. This study reveals that males and females report similar levels of victimization. However, females have more negative reactions to the experience. A large percentage of males report a positive emotional reaction to having been sexually coerced. This study explores possible explanations for these differences.

Exploring Definitions and Prevalence of Verbal Sexual Coercion and Its Relationship to Consent to Unwanted Sex: Implications for Affirmative Consent Standards on College Campuses

“…Situationally, when unwanted but consensual sex is the result of VSC, this renders any additional tactics of coercion or force unnecessary [ 57 , 122 , 135 , 136 ]; if initial tactics were unsuccessful, other tactics may be used and some men will escalate to using physical force [ 40 , 56 , 67 , 70 , 75 , 76 , 137 , 138 ]. Some women report fearing the escalation of violence as one study found that some women reported consenting to sex out of fear of further physical aggression or fear of being raped [ 56 ].…”

“…MacKinnon argued that force is present in sexual assault scenarios precisely because there was a lack of consent [ 106 ]. It is in our purview that VSC tactics are also present because of initial sexual refusal [ 48 , 57 , 122 , 135 , 136 ]. Feminist scholars argue that verbal sexual coercion is fueled by invisible power dynamics that justify men’s use of coercive tactics, prohibit women from making free and autonomous decisions on when, how, and where to engage in sexual activity, or utterly obscure the process by considering it to be a normal part of heterosexual relations [ 66 , 75 , 84 , 104 , 154 ].…”

Childhood and Adolescent Victimization and Perpetration of Sexual Coercion by Male and Female University Students

“…Sexual coercion is a widespread problem with deleterious short-and long-term consequences (Demaris 2005;Kernsmith and Kernsmith 2009;Temple et al 2007;Tewksbury 2007). A number of terms, such as sexual coercion, sexual assault, sexual aggression, sexual violence, sexual pressure, and date or acquaintance rape have been used to cover a range of physical or non-physical behaviors to coerce a partner into unwanted sexual activity.…”

The association between ethnic identity and sexual coercion among young men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

“…The association between ethnic identity and sexual coercion among young men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa activity (Kernsmith and Kernsmith, 2009). Studies have demonstrated that coercive sex is associated with adverse reproductive health consequences such as lower condom use, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, genital injuries, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions (Campbell et al, 2008;Moore et al, 2007;Seth et al, 2010;Soomar et al, 2009).…”

“…Sexual coercion has been described as a form of sexual aggression that includes seduction, manipulation, threats, abuse of power, authority and position, verbal bullying, exploitation of cultural expectations and economic circumstances when one person refuses to engage in any sexual act desired by the other (Erulkar, 2004; Schatzel-Murphy et al, 2009; Sikweyiya and Jewkes, 2009). Even though sexual coercion is less violent, compared to other forms of sexual assault such as rape it ultimately compels a person to engage in unwanted sexual activity (Kernsmith and Kernsmith, 2009). Studies have demonstrated that coercive sex is associated with adverse reproductive health consequences such as lower condom use, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, genital injuries, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions (Campbell et al, 2008; Moore et al, 2007; Seth et al, 2010; Soomar et al, 2009).…”