Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Raguet, Marissa (MDH)" <>]

Hi Jenn,

I know you asked about readings, but just wanted to mention that videos might also be a good tool:

 

Participants in a 2007 research study by Foubert & Perry overwhelmingly reported that watching a fictional video of a male police officer being sexually assaulted by other males increased their understanding of what rape feels like as well as their empathy for rape victims. This study was about “The Men’s Program”. Below is a summary of the research study.

 

Author(s), year	Sample Characteristics	Key Constructs	Intervention Description	Key findings	Strengths and Weaknesses
Foubert & Perry (2007).	Male undergrads at a public southeastern US university.   Fraternity members and athletes.   24 men responded to this 5 month follow-up study of The Men’s Program.	Determinant: All 24 participants originally attended the Men’s Program, a sexual violence prevention program, followed by a 60-90min focus group.   Behavior: researchers asked participants if/how the program changed their behaviors and attitudes related to topics in the Men’s Program (sexual violence).	Participants were asked to answer (in writing) 4 questions related to how the program changed their attitudes and behaviors.	Participants reported:   Increased understanding of what rape feels like (due to video of male-on-male rape), as well as reduction in rape joke tolerance.   33% reported some sort of behavioral change due to the program.   All participants remembered specific impactful elements about the program.	Weaknesses: ·         Self-report biases. ·         Small sample size. ·         Email response system limited anonymity and thus full disclosure about sexual behavior might have been inhibited.   Strengths: ·         24/26 of original program participants completed this follow-up study. ·         Offered qualitative information on specific impactful parts of the program.

 

The study can be found here: http://www.academia.edu/189359/Foubert_J._D._and_Perry_B._C._2007_._Creating_lasting_attitude_and_behavior_change_in_fraternity_members_and_male_student_athletes_The_qualitative_impact_of_an_empathy-based_rape_prevention_program._Violence_Against_Women_13_70-86

 

Your colleague might be able to get a copy of the video they used by emailing the authors, though that would require he/she offer some kind of session or program to male students to go along with the video. Though many people might disagree with showing a video of an assault, even if it can increase empathy…?

 

Based on this finding, books by male survivors of sexual assault might be particularly impactful to increase empathy amongst male college students. The participants of the study did emphasize that seeing that even a “strong” male figure (i.e. police officer) could be assaulted was important. (Sad to think that’s what it takes to increase their empathy!). So I’m not sure… if the male figure was someone who could be viewed as “weak” then it might not have the same effect on empathy for the male college students. However the study only looked at frat members and athletes, so other male college student groups might be different.

 

Best,

Marissa

 

Marissa Steen Raguet

Health Program Representative

Sexual Violence Prevention Program
Injury and Violence Prevention Unit
Minnesota Department of Health
PO Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
Phone: 651-201-5424  FAX: 651/201-5800
e-mail:
www.health.state.mn.us/injury/topic/svp

 

From: Jennifer Scott [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2013 7:57 AM
To: Guttentag, Karen S.
Cc:
Subject: RE: Suggested reading

 

Hi

I was asked by a colleague to make some recommendations for male college students.

On Oct 10, 2013 8:54 AM, "Guttentag, Karen S." <> wrote:

Who’s your audience, Jenn?

 

From: Jennifer Scott [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2013 8:49 AM
To:
Subject: Suggested reading

 

Hi all

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for readings or other materials that they recommend for increasing empathy towards victims of sexual harassment/ assault.  Survivor stories come to mind but are there other things you might use???

Thank you
Jenn
NC state university women's center