Comparing and Predicting Rape Acknowledgment Between Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Categories.

This article focuses on rape acknowledgment—whether victims recognize their experience as rape—within a gender- and sexually diverse sample that includes LGBTQ+ populations. Using quantitative data from 817 individuals who experienced nonconsensual penetrative sexual acts, the study expands traditional binary acknowledgment categories ("yes" or "no") by including an "unsure" option, finding that 44% acknowledged rape, 36% did not, and 20% were uncertain. Results show that gender identity, rather than sexual orientation, significantly predicts acknowledgment: sexual minority transgender/nonbinary individuals and cisgender women were more likely than cisgender men to acknowledge their rape. The study highlights the need for further research on acknowledgment uncertainty and the unique experiences of gender minorities, emphasizing the importance of inclusive methodologies that consider diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.