Abstract
This thesis explores victim culpability attributions made towards women experiencing harassment. Study one examines the influence of Rape and Sexual Aggression Myth (RASAM) beliefs, and harassment context on victim culpability attributions made towards women within and outside of the sex industry. We found that women participating in sex work received greater culpability attributions in the aftermath of their harassment than women who did not. Moreover, sex workers were judged to be more culpable for harassment that occurred in the context of work. Some evidence was found to show that RASAM was associated with culpability attributions regardless of victim profession and harassment context. Building on these findings Study two utilized a threat paradigm to examine the influence of masculinity threat and sexist beliefs on victim culpability attributions. The results of study two reinforced those found in study one as regards both harassment context and participation in sex work. We also found that whilst threats to masculinity had a limited impact on culpability attributions, hostile sexism was uniquely associated with victim culpability attributions following threat. Further research to expand on these findings is required to better understand the relationships between hegemonic ideologies and victim culpability attribution behaviors.