Four Theories of Rape: A Macrosociological Analysis

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical model which integrates four macrosociological theories of rape. One theory holds that rape is a mechanism of gender inequality. A second theory attributes rape to the proliferation of pornographic materials. A third, called cultural spillover theory, maintains that cultural norms which favor violence for socially legitimate purposes tend to be generalized to other social contexts and increase the likelihood of rape. And a final theory holds that social disorganization reduces social constraints against rape. We tested the theoretical model using 1980-1982 data on rapes known to the police in the 50 states of the United States. The results show that gender inequality, social disorganization, percent residing in SMSAs, the circulation of pornography, economic inequality, and percent unemployed have direct effects on the incidence of rape.