Rape Myth Acceptance: Implications for Counselor Education Programs

Abstract A sexually violent act or rape is committed every 1.9 minutes in the United States (USDJ, 2009, p.1). Blaming the rape victim for their perceived complicity is one component of the construct known as rape myth, a term identified by Burt (1980). This study explored and examined the perceptions, and understanding of sexual violence, rape, and rape myths by master’s level counselors-in-training (n=5). Phenomenology and naturalistic inquiry guided the qualitative design and implementation. Suggestions for implementing rape education and training into counseling curriculums and clinical supervision are provided.