Better sex education, worse protection for girls?: Perceiving sexual harassment among Chinese female college students

Yi Mou; Yuanye Cui; Jilong Wang; Zhipeng Li; Yuheng Wu; Yingyan Wu

Better sex education, worse protection for girls? Perceiving sexual harassment among Chinese female college students

Yi Mou
, Yuanye Cui
, Jilong Wang
, Zhipeng Li
, Yuheng Wu
, Yingyan Wu

Research output: Conference Papers › RGC 33 - Other conference paper › peer-review

Abstract

This study responds to the alarmingly frequent occurrence of sexual harassment and assault (SHA) in Chinese colleges by investigating female college students’ SHA experience, attitudes and antecedents of perceptions of SHA. Guided by the system justification theory, this study has confirmed the association between their attitudes toward and perception of SHA (indicated by the acceptance of rape myths) and the traditional gender role value and hostile sexism they hold. In total, more than 30% of variance of attitude and perception can be explained. Hostile sexism is significantly predictive of attitude towards SHA and rape myths acceptance, while benevolent sexism is not. More importantly, as the first of its kind, this study has demonstrated the positive relationships between family sex communication, school sex education and tolerance of SHA and acceptance of rape myths, partially mediated by the respondents’ traditional gender role value and hostile sexism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Original language	English
Publication status	Presented - May 2020
Externally published	Yes
Event	70th Annual International Communication Association Conference (ICA 2020) - Virtual Duration: 20 May 2020 → 26 May 2020 https://www.icahdq.org/page/ICA2020

Conference

Conference	70th Annual International Communication Association Conference (ICA 2020)
Abbreviated title	70th Annual ICA Conference
Period	20/05/20 → 26/05/20
Internet address	https://www.icahdq.org/page/ICA2020

Bibliographical note

Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Research Keywords

Sexual harassment and assault
Chinese female college students
Acceptance of rape myths
System justification theory
Sex education

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Cite this

@conference{a3f039db4f2142bfaec63202f72c20ce,

title = "Better sex education, worse protection for girls?: Perceiving sexual harassment among Chinese female college students",

abstract = "This study responds to the alarmingly frequent occurrence of sexual harassment and assault (SHA) in Chinese colleges by investigating female college students{\textquoteright} SHA experience, attitudes and antecedents of perceptions of SHA. Guided by the system justification theory, this study has confirmed the association between their attitudes toward and perception of SHA (indicated by the acceptance of rape myths) and the traditional gender role value and hostile sexism they hold. In total, more than 30\% of variance of attitude and perception can be explained. Hostile sexism is significantly predictive of attitude towards SHA and rape myths acceptance, while benevolent sexism is not. More importantly, as the first of its kind, this study has demonstrated the positive relationships between family sex communication, school sex education and tolerance of SHA and acceptance of rape myths, partially mediated by the respondents{\textquoteright} traditional gender role value and hostile sexism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.",

keywords = "Sexual harassment and assault, Chinese female college students, Acceptance of rape myths, System justification theory, Sex education",

author = "Yi Mou and Yuanye Cui and Jilong Wang and Zhipeng Li and Yuheng Wu and Yingyan Wu",

note = "Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.; 70th Annual International Communication Association Conference (ICA 2020), 70th Annual ICA Conference ; Conference date: 20-05-2020 Through 26-05-2020",

year = "2020",

month = may,

language = "English",

url = "https://www.icahdq.org/page/ICA2020",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Better sex education, worse protection for girls?

T2 - 70th Annual International Communication Association Conference (ICA 2020)

AU - Mou, Yi

AU - Cui, Yuanye

AU - Wang, Jilong

AU - Li, Zhipeng

AU - Wu, Yuheng

AU - Wu, Yingyan

N1 - Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

PY - 2020/5

Y1 - 2020/5

N2 - This study responds to the alarmingly frequent occurrence of sexual harassment and assault (SHA) in Chinese colleges by investigating female college students’ SHA experience, attitudes and antecedents of perceptions of SHA. Guided by the system justification theory, this study has confirmed the association between their attitudes toward and perception of SHA (indicated by the acceptance of rape myths) and the traditional gender role value and hostile sexism they hold. In total, more than 30% of variance of attitude and perception can be explained. Hostile sexism is significantly predictive of attitude towards SHA and rape myths acceptance, while benevolent sexism is not. More importantly, as the first of its kind, this study has demonstrated the positive relationships between family sex communication, school sex education and tolerance of SHA and acceptance of rape myths, partially mediated by the respondents’ traditional gender role value and hostile sexism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

AB - This study responds to the alarmingly frequent occurrence of sexual harassment and assault (SHA) in Chinese colleges by investigating female college students’ SHA experience, attitudes and antecedents of perceptions of SHA. Guided by the system justification theory, this study has confirmed the association between their attitudes toward and perception of SHA (indicated by the acceptance of rape myths) and the traditional gender role value and hostile sexism they hold. In total, more than 30% of variance of attitude and perception can be explained. Hostile sexism is significantly predictive of attitude towards SHA and rape myths acceptance, while benevolent sexism is not. More importantly, as the first of its kind, this study has demonstrated the positive relationships between family sex communication, school sex education and tolerance of SHA and acceptance of rape myths, partially mediated by the respondents’ traditional gender role value and hostile sexism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

KW - Sexual harassment and assault

KW - Chinese female college students

KW - Acceptance of rape myths

KW - System justification theory

KW - Sex education

M3 - RGC 33 - Other conference paper

Y2 - 20 May 2020 through 26 May 2020

ER -