First- and Second-Generation Measures of Sexism, Rape Myths and Related Beliefs, and Hostility Toward Women

Abstract

Sexist attitudes and rape-supporting beliefs have long been linked to relationship aggression and sexual coercion. This study investigates how recent developments in the conceptualization and measurement of these variables are related to each other and how they are related to aggressive and coercive behaviors. Second-generation measures of sexism and rape-supporting beliefs were found to be related to each other and to aggressive and sexually coercive behaviors. Relationships between attitude measures appeared to be based primarily on shared belief systems, whereas relationships between attitude measures and aggressive behavior appeared to be based primarily on generalized hostility toward women.