SEXUAL COERCION IN DATING SITUATIONS AMONG UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS - PRELIMINARY AUSTRALIAN DATA

Australian data on experiences of ''unwanted sex play'' and ''unwanted intercourse'' in dating situations are compared with data from university student populations in the United States (Koss, Gidycz, & Wisniewski, 1987) and New Zealand (Gavey, 1991a). The data illustrate the existence of a continuum of sexual coercion which occurs at levels which are comparable to those reported in the US and New Zealand studies. The present study also finds a discrepancy between reported female experience of coercion and male acknowledgment of having been coercive, and a tendency of females to fail to identify ''unwanted sexual intercourse'' as rape. Discussion includes theoretical implications and suggestions for further research, such as the need for data from wider Australian samples, and further refinements in definition and measurement.