How Many Terms Does It Take to Define Sexual Assault? Inconsistencies in U.S. Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Policies

Leanna J. Papp; Sandra R. Levitsky; Elizabeth A. Armstrong; Kamaria B. Porter

doi:10.1177/10778012231189477

How Many Terms Does It Take to Define Sexual Assault? Inconsistencies in U.S. Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Policies

Leanna J. Papp
, Sandra R. Levitsky
, Elizabeth A. Armstrong
, Kamaria B. Porter

Education Policy Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Campus sexual misconduct policies (SMPs) outline prohibited conduct. We sought to document the range of terms used to refer to forms of nonconsensual sexual contact in SMPs and to analyze the content of definitions provided for the term “sexual assault.” We coded the 2016-2017 SMPs from a sample of 381 U.S. schools. We identified 125 unique terms and documented both a terminological and conceptual morass around sexual assault. Policy language may have implications for students’ and administrators’ evaluation of experiences and reports of sexual assault.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	3970-3990
Number of pages	21
Journal	Violence Against Women
Volume	30
Issue number	15-16
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012231189477
State	Published - Dec 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Gender Studies
Sociology and Political Science
Law

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AU - Armstrong, Elizabeth A.

AU - Porter, Kamaria B.

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How Many Terms Does It Take to Define Sexual Assault? Inconsistencies in U.S. Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Policies

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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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