Conradie, M. S.Brokensha, S.Lake, N.Botha, Sharne Lindie2022-02-032022-02-032021-01http://hdl.handle.net/11660/11381This dissertation examines the manner in which the rape of women by men is constructed in online user-generated content. The study utilises the comments section of the YouTube video trailer for the documentary film The Hunting Ground (2015), as well as the comments sections of several YouTube video clips concerning the #RUReferenceList. Through a comparative analysis of comments to South African and United States YouTube videos, feminist discursive psychology (FDP) is employed to investigate linguistic patterns and trends which potentially construct permissive attitudes towards campus sexual assault. The study found that respondents for both the South African and US contexts engage in mitigating discourse strategies when discussing campus sexual assault. However, while this dissertation concludes that both South African and US online communities potentially constitute rape-prone environments, these strategies manifest in unique and distinct ways. Furthermore, common rape myths are largely eschewed in favour of new forms of victim blaming and myth making. Respondents largely employ three repertoires in their discussion of campus sexual assault: The false rape repertoire, the feminazi repertoire and the modesty repertoire.enDissertation (M.A. (English))--University of the Free State, 2021Women rape -- Men -- YouTube videosThe Hunting Ground (2015) -- Analysis content -- RapeDissertationUniversity of the Free State