Lesley McMillan

Gender differences in undergraduate attendance rates

Research on students’ attendance rates has focused mainly on the effects of personality variables and cognitive ability, rather than on the impact on degree outcomes. More specifically, there is scant information relating to the question of whether male and female undergraduate students have differential practices in relation to attendance, whether any such differences are significant or not in terms of eventual outcomes for undergraduates, and on why such differences might occur. The results of two studies conducted at the University of Sussex are presented and discussed in this article. The importance of attendance in determining final degree outcome is confirmed in these studies; indeed the rate at which a student attends emerges as the strongest predictor of degree outcome amongst a number of variables examined. The existence of differential attendance rates between male and female students is also confirmed. The results provide a context within which a range of possible underlying reasons for gender differences in this regard can be explored.

An evaluation of economics and acceptability of screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infection, in women attending antenatal, abortion, colposcopy and family planning clinics in Scotland, UK

Objective  The aims of this study were to determine cost effectiveness of screening for Chlamydia trachomatis in hospital‐based antenatal and gynaecology clinics, and community‐based family planning clinics. Additionally, womens views of screening were determined in the hospital‐based clinics.

The role of the specially trained officer in rape and sexual offence cases

The specially trained officer (STO) in rape and sexual offence cases performs a vital role in terms of case processing, supporting investigation and providing services directly to the victim of rape. Despite being regarded as a vital part of the post-assault processing of rape cases, STOs have received scant attention in the research literature. This paper outlines the experience and importance of STOs in one English county, and highlights that despite the importance of their role, officers are often poorly supported in the management structure. Individual officers recognise the importance of their role both in terms of victim support and investigation, but report that immediate supervisors do not always share this view, leading to tensions in the process. The findings also indicate the particularly time-consuming nature of ongoing communication with the victim in cases of rape, but the incredible importance of this communication. It is argued that STOs working in tandem with independent sexual violence advisors would alleviate the burden for STOs, and improve communication with the victim, ultimately contributing to a more procedurally just outcome.

Silly girls and "nice young lads" vilification and vindication in the perceptions of medico-legal practitioners in rape cases

In this article, we explore perceptions and presumptions in relation to rape, raped women, and rapists, among medico-legal professionals who perform forensic medical examinations in rape cases. We draw upon data from in-depth interviews conducted with forensic medical examiners and forensic nurse practitioners in one area of England. Findings reveal that many of these personnel hold particular views centered broadly on the vilification of victims and the vindication of perpetrators. We conclude that these perceptions and presumptions may hold concerning implications for both victim experiences and evidentiary and judicial outcomes.

Police officers’ perceptions of false allegations of rape

Abstract The idea that women lie about rape is a long standing rape myth with little or no supporting evidence. Previous research has demonstrated a belief in high levels of false allegations among police officers, despite no evidence to suggest rape is falsely reported more than other crimes. This has implications for complainants’ willingness to report sexual violations, for the treatment of complainants within the justice system, and wider societal understandings about what constitutes rape. The data that informs this paper comes from an Economic and Social Research Council-funded study that focussed on rape attrition and the institutional response to rape. Forty in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with serving police officers in a UK force who regularly deal with reported cases of rape, and explored perceptions, practices and processes around rape. The research found police officers’ estimate of false allegations varies widely from 5 to 90%. The paper will discuss how police officers make judgements about perceived veracity of complainants in rape cases. This will demonstrate that whilst significant progress has been made in how police officers and police forces respond to rape, gender stereotypes about women as deceitful, vengeful and ultimately regretful of sexual encounters, continue to pervade the thinking of some officers. It will show that police officers differentiate between ‘types’ of reports they consider to be false, and operate with a notional ‘hierarchy’ of presumed false allegations that ranges from vengeful/malicious to mistaken/confused, with a corresponding reducing level of culpability attributed to women for the supposedly false allegation. It concludes that this serves to reinforce a culture that both supports and reproduces gender inequality and its manifestation in the form of sexual violence, and that intervention, training and institutional and policy frameworks are not wholly successful in addressing sexual violence in this context.

Exploring masculinities, sexual health and wellbeing across areas of high deprivation in Scotland: the depth of the challenge to improve understandings and practices

&NA; Within and across areas of high deprivation, we explored constructions of masculinity in relation to sexual health and wellbeing, in what we believe to be the first UK study to take this approach. Our sample of 116 heterosexual men and women age 18–40 years took part in individual semi‐structured interviews (n = 35) and focus group discussions (n = 18), across areas in Scotland. Drawing on a socio‐ecological framework, findings revealed experience in places matter, with gender practices rooted in a domestically violent milieu, where localised, socio‐cultural influences offered limited opportunities for more egalitarian performances of masculinity. We discuss the depths of the challenge in transforming masculinities in relation to sexual health and wellbeing in such communities. HighlightsGender practices were commonly rooted in a domestically violent milieu.Localised, socio‐cultural influences offered limited opportunities for an egalitarian masculinity.Interventions need to operate across multiple levels and engage with multiple agencies.

Violence Against Women and the Feminist Movement

This chapter discusses the feminist redefinition of violence and the responses the movement produced, with particular reference to Sweden and the UK. It moves on to discuss largely US-based literature concerned with the history and development of the movement detailing the supposed transition from a social movement stance to a service delivery orientation and the reasons why this occurred. Lastly, consideration is given to social movement scholarship discussing the usefulness and limitations of this for studying the women’s and anti-violence movements.

Women’s Anti-violence Organisations and the State

The previous chapters have outlined the importance of engaging with the state for the anti-violence movement in terms of accessing funding for alternative welfare provision and seeking policy reform. There are a number of factors that can facilitate or limit this interaction, and the basis on which it occurs. Feminists have chosen to intervene in the state and in turn to influence policy by working both within state structures and outwith them. The nature of the state, feminist political persuasion and the nature of the women’s movement have impacted on the strategies adopted.

Funding Feminist Movement Organisations Working Around Violence

The issue of access to funding and resources has been a salient one for women’s refuges and crisis centres. Organisations began in the 1970s with little or no state funding and were therefore free to explore new ways of working that were not curtailed by the restrictions and influence of other agencies. The advent of state funding for refuges and crisis centres offered the possibility of financial security but the risk of impacting upon organisations’ way of working and activities. The research has found that funding continues to be a key area for organisations in both Sweden and the UK. Debates about whether to accept state funding still occur within the movement and there have been notable changes over time in the methods used by organisations to secure resources. In addition, the results have shown that the level of funding provision is still highly variable and insecurity of funding is a major area of concern for organisations, even those with core state funding. For organisations in Sweden and the UK, applying for and accepting state funding restricts organisations’ activities but at the same time can provide stability for organisations on a longer-term basis and allow the provision of services to women. The research has also found that changes to activities and services come from pressures both within and outwith the organisations. This is discussed further in the themes that follow.

Feminism and the State

The dual roles of feminist movement organisations working around violence mean it is necessary to consider the role of the state not only in its capacity as abuser of rights and its potential to alleviate women’s oppression, but also in its capacity as the main funding body for the organisations set up by the women’s movement as alternative forms of welfare provision for women suffering male violence.