Homosexual Individuals
But what happens when the victim is homosexual? White and Robinson-Kurpius[8] report that traditional gender role attitudes are positively related to victim blame. Negative attitudes toward homosexuals are related to more blame being attributed to homosexual victims. They write that research has not been conducted on attitudes toward gay male and lesbian rape victims, begging the question of, "which variables contribute to the negative ways in which homosexual victims are perceived by society?" White and Robinson-Kurpius[8] also explain that people who are "familiar" with (knows) someone who is homosexual report fewer negative attitudes toward homosexuals, while the most negative attitudes come from those with strong religious convictions.
In fact, White and Robinson-Kurpius[8] (pp 6-7) go so far as to state that, "Although homosexuals are at greater risk for sexual assault than are heterosexuals, to date no research has been found on the perceptions or attitudes toward gay men and/or lesbian rape victims who are not institutionalized."
Furthermore, one can ask, does the victim's sexual orientation affect the support a victim may receive from family, friends, and crisis centers? These are unanswered questions that require future research.
Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing eJournal. 2006;6(1) © 2006 Medscape
Comments