Qualitative Analysis of Women's Perceived Vulnerability to Sexual Aggression in a Hypothetical Dating Context

Abstract

Dating and meeting members of the opposite sex offer potential benefits to young women, yet also put them at risk for sexual aggression. Previous research suggests that women have difficulty discerning risk in a dating situation, as many of the risk factors of sexual aggression are also normal aspects of dating. This experimental study used a qualitative data analytic technique to gain insight into women's interpretation of ambiguous risk cues and subsequent decision making when presented with a hypothetical social situation. The influence of alcohol consumption on women's responses to the situation also was examined. Women aged 21-29 were randomly assigned to receive either a dose of alcohol sufficient to raise blood alcohol level to .08, a placebo, or no alcohol. They then read a written vignette depicting a high-conflict social situation and wrote an ending to the story. Results revealed that, although women recognized the potential danger of sexual aggression, this recognition frequently was overridden by a desire to facilitate the relationship, and/or a belief that any potential sexual aggression could be successfully managed. No alcohol effects were found for thematic content or total number of expressed themes. Based on these findings, the authors conclude that, while women appear to be able to recognize risk, they may benefit from learning to use strategies for managing potentially risky situations.