Advisory Committee Chair
Lindsay Leban
Advisory Committee Members
Ráchael Powers
Tara Warner
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
1-1-2025
Degree Name by School
Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
Sexual assault is a widespread problem that affects people of all races and genders. However, depending on the racial identities of those involved, societal reactions to these violent crimes frequently vary. This thesis investigates how perceptions of victims of sexual assault are influenced by prejudicial and stereotypical views of race and gender. Based on the perspectives of intersectionality and Black feminist thought, particular emphasis is placed on racialized stereotypes of Black womanhood, including the Jezebel and Strong Black Woman tropes. This study evaluates how victim-blaming for sexual assault varies by victim and offender race and examines the role of stereotypical and prejudicial beliefs in this relationship. Using a vignette-based experimental design, 1,254 U.S. adults were surveyed on their perceptions of culpability after reading a fictitious account of an acquaintance rape. A 2 x 2 factorial design was used in which the race of both the victim and perpetrator varied in vignettes. Results revealed intricate patterns in the interaction between victim and perpetrator race and stereotype endorsement. Black women victims were perceived to be more culpable and received less empathy than White women, particularly in intraracial assault scenarios. The Jezebel and Strong Black Woman stereotypes played a role in how sexual assault victims were perceived, with evidence of moderation by race. Endorsement of the Jezebel stereotype exacerbated victim-blaming and reduced empathy for Black women, while the Strong Black Woman stereotype mitigated blame. Results also suggested that benevolent sexism had a pronounced effect on legitimizing the victimization of White women assaulted by Black men and that hostile sexist beliefs may more strongly disadvantage Black women victims. Findings from this study build on our understanding of the role of racialized stereotypes in how sexual assaults are perceived, demonstrating that heightened victim-blaming of Black women sexual assault victims is in part driven by stereotypes of Black womanhood. These relationships imply that racialized stereotypes contribute to the persistence of differences in victim perception and support. These have important implications for policy, as they speak to the process through which racialized stereotypes can perpetuate racial disparities in the treatment of sexual assault victims. In order to support survivors of sexual assault and pursue justice, especially for those whose identities have been historically marginalized, the findings from this thesis emphasize the significance of culturally responsive frameworks in both policy and practice.
Recommended Citation
Brundidge, Ter'Ricka Faith, "From Sexualization To Victim Blaming: The Role Of Stereotypes Of Black Womanhood In Perceptions Of Sexual Assault" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 6822.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/6822
Comments
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