Examining the relationship between gender roles and attitudes towards rape victims among Latino/as in the United States

The present study aimed to examine factors influencing attitudes towards rape victims among a sample of Latinos (N=312) and Latinas (N=427). The predictive role of gender role attitudes was the overarching factor of interest. The study utilized the constructs of machismo/caballerismo and marianismo in efforts to capture the most culturally-relevant understanding and manifestation of gender role attitudes for the population of interest. Machismo/caballerismo and marianismo are largely ignored in empirical research but quite prevalent in Latino theoretical literature. The study also aimed to investigate the applicability of acculturation, a variable commonly included in Latino research but overlooked in rape research. The primary hypotheses tested in the study were whether the gender role attitudes of men and women would predict negative attitudes towards rape victims. It was proposed that higher levels of traditional gender role attitudes (i.e., machismo for males and marianismo for females) would predict higher levels of negative attitudes towards rape victims. Conversely, higher levels of caballerismo (i.e., less traditional male gender role attitudes) would predict lower levels of negative attitudes towards rape victims. Analyses revealed that gender role attitudes did not predict attitudes towards rape victims for either females or males in the sample. Among the female sample, social desirability was the only variable that significantly predicted attitudes towards rape victims. Among the male sample, socioeconomic status was found to be the only significant predictor of attitudes towards rape victims. Secondary hypotheses posited that degree of acculturation would affect the strength of the relationship between gender role attitudes and attitudes towards rape victims. This proposed moderating relationship was not tested as there was no significant relationship between the gender role and attitudes towards rape victims variables.