Ladies I Hope You are in Church Right now: Exploring Rape Myths from Social Media Comments in the Deep South

This research examines online comments (n = 455) of news articles about sexual assault shared by local news outlets in a rural area of the Deep South to determine the degree to which rape myth acceptance (RMA) is upheld and/or challenged. We found approximately two-thirds of the comments upheld traditional rape myths while one-third focused on supporting the victim and holding the alleged perpetrator accountable. The data also demonstrate the importance of cultural context of the Deep South in shaping the content of rape myths. These findings can be used to guide context-specific education programs that challenge rape myths and elevate community support for victims.

Automated summary

This research analyzed online comments (n = 455) on news articles about sexual assault from local news outlets in a rural area of the Deep South to examine the level of acceptance and challenge towards rape myths. The findings revealed that approximately two-thirds of the comments upheld traditional rape myths, while one-third focused on supporting the victims and holding the alleged perpetrators accountable. Additionally, the study highlighted the influence of the cultural context of the Deep South on the construction of rape myths. These findings can be utilized to develop targeted educational programs that challenge rape myths and promote community support for victims.