Women Have Greater Fears Of Physical Crime From Potential Sexual Harm

New findings published in the journal Sex Roles examine how some women may have a greater fear of physical crime due to the potential of sexual harassment and/or rape.

"Our research supports previous findings that the rampant sexual objectification of women, an act of sexual terrorism, can heighten women's fears of incurring physical and sexual harm," researcher Laurel Watson said in a statement.

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City found that sexual objectification played a role in perceived risk and fear of crime in women from different types of races.

While all forms of sexual objectification share a common thread, a woman's body or body parts are separated from the rest of her person for another's consumption or enjoyment. Yet while the effect on appearance anxiety is well-known, the current study is one of just a few that actually examine how it impacts physical safety anxiety.

Researchers noted some racial differences, including how Arican American women reported more sexual objectification experiences and fear of crime than white women, and were affected by greater links to psychological distress. The authors suggest further research with larger sample sizes to explore racial differences further.

For the study, researchers collected and analyzed data from 133 African American and 95 white female undergraduates. Women at college experience rates of rape five-to-seven times higher than women of comparable age outside college. One in five American women are raped in their lifetime.

"Women bear the scar tissue of a sociocultural context where rape is epidemic," Watson said. "Challenging and eradicating the widespread acceptance of sexual terrorism, in its many forms, is key to increasing women's sense of safety, freedom and movement in the world."

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).