Gender stereotypes, homonegativism, and support of sexually coercive behaviour among adolescents in Newfoundland and Labrador

• Main Author: Morrison, Todd Graham
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1994
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/5880/; https://research.library.mun.ca/5880/1/Morrison_ToddGraham.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/5880/3/Morrison_ToddGraham.pdf

The purpose of this study was to examine whether adolescents possess attitudes that are gender stereotypic, homonegative, and supportive of sexually coercive behaviour. For this specific purpose, an instrument entitled the Sexual Aggression and Conservatism Scale (SACS) was developed. Reliability and validity assessments suggested that the instrument was psychometrically robust. The researcher distributed 1,124 questionnaires to randomly selected schools in Newfoundland and Labrador for administration to students in grades ten and twelve. An analysis of returns (1,045 questionnaires - a response rate at 93%) revealed that: (1) male respondents were more gender stereotypic, homonegative, and supportive of sexually coercive behaviour than females; (2) academic achievement was negatively correlated with endorsement of gender stereotypes, homonegativism, and sexual coercion; (3) religiosity (operationally defined as frequency of church attendance) was not associated with endorsement of these attitudes; (4) respondents' site of residence (urban versus rural) was not associated with endorsement of these attitudes; and (5) homonegativism and endorsement of sexual coercion were positively correlated.