“Information is power:” Promoting a Safer Environment for College Students to Report Sexual Violence

ABSTRACT

Most college students do not report sexual violence (SV) incidents reportable under Title IX to their universities. Several studies focus on Title IX in regard to gender equality in sports or SV survivors’ perceptions of their Title IX experience. However, few studies examine the knowledge and perceptions of Title IX of the general college student body using qualitative methods. This study expands upon this literature by exploring college students’ perspectives on Title IX, including the most recent amendments to Title IX regulations. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 55 students with different levels of Title IX experience at one university. The results show that, with the exception of students with Title IX experience, most students lack knowledge about Title IX regulations and procedures, but all students had high expectations of the Title IX office. There is also skepticism and confusion surrounding changes to Title IX regulations.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual violence
• Title IX
• victimization
• discrimination
• college students

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) and the Office of Graduate Education, George Mason University.

Notes on contributors

Lindsay Smith

Lindsay Smith Lindsay Smith completed her master’s degree in Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University. As a doctoral candidate in Criminology, Law and Society, she works as a graduate research assistant for the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence! Her research interests include gender and corrections with an emphasis on reintegration success, gender-based violence, and sexual victimization.

Pallie Swartz

Pallie Swartz Pallie Swartz completed her undergraduate degrees in psychology and criminology at Kansas State University, and her master’s degree in Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University. She is completing her law degree at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and plans to practice family law, focusing on domestic and sexual violence, education, and disability law.

Yasemin Irvin-Erickson

Yasemin Irvin-Erickson Dr. Yasemin Irvin-Erickson is an Assistant Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University. She primarily conducts research in the areas of victimization and violence.