Explaining rape law severity
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The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
2004
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407145459 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu14071454592021-08-03T06:26:42Z Explaining rape law severity Janssen, Brian Charles Sociology This paper explores explanations for differences in rape law severity. Drawing on theories of gender stratification, hypotheses are developed using gender equality measures. Threat hypotheses are also tested by examining the effects of minority presence on statute construction. Political and historical accounts are also tested for explanatory power. Ordinal probit models are used to test these hypotheses using data obtained from the rape statutes of all fifty states in the years 1970, 1980, and 1990. Key findings are that (1) female economic equality is a significant factor explaining increased legal severity; (2) minority presence in the former Confederate south is associated with legal severity; (3) the presence of a Republican governor and Republican controlled legislature are associated with increased legal severity; (4) the political ideology of state citizens also posses significant explanatory power. These results support hypotheses that the state acts in the interest of the economically powerful and racial majority. As female economic power increases, the state will enact laws in their interest. More importantly, this paper also finds support for the hypothesis that historical prejudice and racial fear are associated with the state enacting more severe rape laws. 2004 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407145459 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407145459 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Sociology |
| spellingShingle |
Sociology Janssen, Brian Charles Explaining rape law severity |
| author |
Janssen, Brian Charles |
| author_facet |
Janssen, Brian Charles |
| author_sort |
Janssen, Brian Charles |
| title |
Explaining rape law severity |
| title_short |
Explaining rape law severity |
| title_full |
Explaining rape law severity |
| title_fullStr |
Explaining rape law severity |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Explaining rape law severity |
| title_sort |
explaining rape law severity |
| publisher |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2004 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407145459 |
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AT janssenbriancharles explainingrapelawseverity |
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