This study examined the association between demographic characteristics such as race, sexual orientation, and gender identity and the experience of victimization and fear of crime on a college campus among a sample of undergraduate college students. Using a combination of random and purposive sampling techniques, a sample of 312 students from a large midwestern university provided information on their victimization experiences and feelings of safety while on campus. Bivariate measures of association suggested the student victimization prevalence rate was statistically significantly different based on gender identity and sexual orientation but not race. Fear of victimization was only statistically significantly different when looking at gender identity but not sexual orientation or race. Multivariable models, which controlled for time on campus and other demographic characteristics found that being a cisgender women increased the odds of having been victimized, as was having spent more time in college. After controlling for a host of demographic characteristics, fear of crime was higher for cisgender women and those that report a non-binary identity than it was for cisgender males, and those that were victimized on campus previously reported higher fear than those that reported no prior victimization.
Read
