| Abstract: | Feminists have long argued that structural inequality between men and women influences the prevalence of rape. The patriarchal
maintenance hypothesis predicts that gender inequality increases rape, while gender equality ameliorates rape (Whaley and
Messner 2002). Alternatively, the backlash hypothesis predicts that gender equality exacerbates the rape problem (Russell
1975; Williams and Holmes 1981). To date, no study has explored this relationship with respect to race. In the present study,
we use a cross-sectional design with racially disaggregated census and crime data in order to assess the differences among
White and Black women in terms of their status along educational, employment, income, and occupational dimensions, and their
risk of victimization. The findings indicate that the relationship between equality and rape is masked in the model that includes
all women, but becomes apparent in the race specific models.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
