Define It! Addressing Rape Culture within 2SLGBTQ+ Communities Through Critical Consciousness Raising.

Abstract

Sexual violence remains a global public health concern. Although evaluated rates of sexual victimization against LGBTQ+ individuals exist, prevention efforts primarily center cisgender and heterosexual experiences. The current study addressed this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of a sexual violence prevention program, Define it! adapted by and for LGBTQ+ communities. Data were collected at baseline and one-month follow-up from 36 LGBTQ+ students (intervention n = 22, control n = 14). Univariate ANCOVAs were run to investigate the impact of the intervention on critical consciousness, bystander willingness to intervene, and rape myth acceptance. Significant group differences were identified for bystander willingness categories of consciousness raising and sexual assault bystander behavior. Additional significant group differences were not identified. However, due to the small sample size, effect sizes were examined. Effects sizes ranged from large (η² = .173, consciousness raising) to minimal (η² = .001, sexual harassment bystander behavior). Results provide initial support for the utility of the adapted version of Define it! with LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in the areas of consciousness raising and sexual assault bystander behavior. These results also suggest the promise of prevention efforts centering LGBTQ+ individuals and their experiences and critical consciousness raising in ending sexual violence on campuses.