Sexual Coercion: Recognizing and Addressing the Issue

Sexual coercion has increasingly been acknowledged as a pervasive issue within the United States, necessitating significant shifts in societal norms, legal frameworks, and political awareness. These changes have spurred a burgeoning interest in researching this multifaceted problem, particularly within the context of college campuses, where men often become the central focus of study. Researchers have sought to identify the key predictors and underlying causes of sexual coercion, resulting in numerous studies, albeit mostly correlative, that primarily focus on male behaviors. However, the evolving attitudes and heightened legal scrutiny present formidable challenges for researchers and policymakers alike.

Defining the Complexity

The complexity of sexual coercion is well-documented by Pugh and Becker (2018), who note its various forms and manifestations. Typically triggered by the refusal of sex and the insistence of a partner who disregards a 'no', sexual coercion can begin with verbal pressure, often coupled with physical touching aimed at arousing the reluctant partner. When these tactics fail, the coercive behavior may escalate to threats of relationship termination or infidelity. In more severe scenarios, drugs and alcohol might be employed with the intention of rendering the partner more compliant. Ultimately, outright refusal can sometimes culminate in the use of physical force, leading to rape.

This spectrum of behaviors poses definitional and conceptual challenges for researchers. The rapidly shifting legal and societal standards, combined with the intimate and evolving nature of sexual coercion, complicate efforts to measure it accurately. Disagreements over definitions can undermine the assumptions and models used to comprehend the phenomenon. Bouffard and Goodson (2017) highlighted the difficulties in defining rape and sexual coercion, warning that the predictive validity of certain factors hinges on the breadth of the definitions employed. Similarly, Pugh and Becker (2018) underscored the challenge of distinguishing sexual coercion from rape and differentiating benign seduction tactics from more aggressive behaviors. Their study sought to circumvent this issue by focusing on the opportunity for and perceived authenticity of female consent. They posited that coercive behaviors invalidated consent, even if such behaviors were traditionally viewed as harmless. This analysis underscores the persistence of coercive behavior in men despite a clear lack of consent as a critical factor in understanding the issue.

Entitlement and Its Roots

Amidst definitional challenges, several predictive factors for sexual coercion have emerged, though they are not yet cohesively integrated into a functional model. Grubbs, Exline, and Twenge (2014) explored the relationship between entitlement—a facet of narcissistic personality—and ambivalent sexism, suggesting that entitlement may directly relate to sexual coercion. Entitlement is often characterized as an unwarranted expectation of special privileges or considerations, a topic that has sparked intense debate on college campuses. The transition from academic entitlement to sexual entitlement appears intuitive to many observers. While multiple researchers have examined correlations between varying definitions of entitlement and sexual coercion, the role of entitlement may be overstated.

Richardson, Simons, and Futris (2017) investigated how family dynamics, particularly parenting quality and childhood family life, relate to sexual coercion. They traced adult entitlement back to family backgrounds, identifying connections to sexual coercion. Their study proposed three key influences on entitlement: inconsistent parenting often seen in divorce or hostile relationships, overindulgent or "helicopter" parenting, and a lack of empathy resulting from parental hostility. These influences, they argued, shape a child's worldview, potentially fostering a sense of entitlement. Morin (2018) remarked that academic entitlement has become a widespread issue in U.S. colleges, with students expecting assistance in their studies while exerting minimal effort. Richardson et al. (2017) demonstrated a link between negative parental relationships and entitlement, but found that entitlement alone did not fully correlate with sexual coercion. Only when combined with poor parental relationships did a significant correlation emerge.

Gender Dynamics and Consent

The issue of entitlement and its connection to sexual coercion also raises questions about gender dynamics in the context of consent. The attitudes and behaviors of men are often analyzed through self-reported standards, which may not reliably reflect actual behaviors during sexual encounters. This discrepancy highlights the challenges in relying on self-reported data, as there can be a significant gap between stated attitudes and actual behaviors. Studies predominantly focus on male perspectives, often neglecting the challenges women face in communicating and enforcing consent. Women's entitlement to autonomy and respect should act as a counterbalance to sexual coercion, yet as Pugh and Becker (2018) noted, if male perceptions of female consent are not mutually acknowledged, sexual coercion becomes almost inevitable.

Conclusion

Ultimately, linking sexual coercion to primary rather than secondary measures, as Richardson et al. (2017) did, lays a foundation resilient to future shifts in definitions and models. By isolating the influence of entitlement in men with positive parental role models, the study suggests entitlement could drive sexual coercion, albeit moderated by positive family experiences. This insight offers a potential model for developing more effective intervention strategies. By identifying the mitigating effect of positive parental influence, future research can build upon these findings to devise comprehensive approaches that address both the psychological and social dimensions of sexual coercion. Through a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between individual traits and environmental factors, we can better address the root causes and develop preventive measures to combat sexual coercion effectively.

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