Modern Rape Myths: A Systematic Review of Perceptions in Western and Central-Eastern Europe

A systematic literature review compares the perception of rape myths in Western and Central-Eastern Europe. The analysis includes 77 peer-reviewed scholarly articles published between 2013 and 2023, sourced from the ProQuest, Scopus, and ERIH Plus databases. Western Europe (Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Belgium, Ireland, and Denmark) and Central-Eastern Europe (Croatia, Poland, Cyprus, Greece, and Hungary) were analyzed separately to account for regional differences. The findings indicate that in Central-Eastern European countries, the acceptance of rape myths is higher due to conservative social norms and deeply rooted gender stereotypes. In Western Europe, these myths take more subtle forms and are often masked by seemingly liberal rhetoric. The study highlights the need for further research on rape myths, particularly in Central-Eastern European countries.