Gender Bias in Sexual Assault Response and Investigation

This 4-part bulletin series explores gender bias, both explicit and implicit, and the resulting stereotypes and attitudes that can influence the professional response to, and investigation of, sexual assault. The topics of each bulletin include:

• Part 1: Introduces the concept of implicit bias and briefly reviews the decades of neurobiological and social scientific research that documents its existence and impact.
• Part 2: Examines the relationship between gender bias and victim selection at the time of the assault, as well as victim blaming afterward.
• Part 3: Explores the relationship between bias and the designation of false reports in cases of sexual assault and rape.
• Part 4: Explores the relationship between gender bias and victim recantations in cases of sexual assault.