Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1992
Publication Title
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency
Abstract
There is a growing consensus that a major cause of the rape problem is the subordinate position of women in the social, political, and economic order. Despite this consensus, there have been few structural analyses of rape and inequality. Further, extant investigations suffer from a number of serious shortcomings such that, at present, there is not a sound basis for accepting, or rejecting, rape and inequality arguments. Correcting for many of the limitations of previous studies, this investigation extends our understanding of the role of gender socioeconomic inequality and other structural factors in the etiology of rape. The authors examine the relationship between rape rates and various measures of general, racial, and gender socioeconomic inequality for U.S. metropolitan areas. Their findings show that gender income inequality is a significant contributor to rape, but gender inequities in educational attainment and occupational status do not contribute significantly to this offense. The analysis also points to a number of other structural factors, including general income inequality, that are powerful predictors of rape.
Repository Citation
Peterson, Ruth and Bailey, William C., "Rape and Dimensions of Gender Socioeconomic Inequality in U.S. Metropolitan Areas" (1992). Sociology & Criminology Faculty Publications. 85.
https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/clsoc_crim_facpub/85
Original Citation
Peterson, R. D., , & Bailey, W. C. (1992). Rape and Dimensions of Gender Socioeconomic Inequality in U.S. Metropolitan Areas. Journal Of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 29(2), 162-177. doi:10.1177/0022427892029002004
DOI
10.1177/0022427892029002004
Volume
29
Issue
2