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How Many Terms Does It Take to Define Sexual Assault? Inconsistencies in U.S. Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Policies.

Authors :
Papp, Leanna J.
Levitsky, Sandra R.
Armstrong, Elizabeth A.
Porter, Kamaria B.
Source :
Violence Against Women. Dec2024, Vol. 30 Issue 15/16, p3970-3990. 21p.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Campus sexual misconduct policies (SMPs) outline prohibited conduct. We sought to document the range of terms used to refer to forms of nonconsensual sexual contact in SMPs and to analyze the content of definitions provided for the term "sexual assault." We coded the 2016-2017 SMPs from a sample of 381 U.S. schools. We identified 125 unique terms and documented both a terminological and conceptual morass around sexual assault. Policy language may have implications for students' and administrators' evaluation of experiences and reports of sexual assault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10778012
Volume :
30
Issue :
15/16
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Violence Against Women
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
181276723
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012231189477