Institutions of higher education (IHEs) often disseminate risk reduction strategies intended to reduce sexual assault victimization and/or perpetration. This research examined the content and context of publicly available risk reduction strategies offered by a nationally representative sample of 4-year IHEs in the United States (N = 242; public and private not-for-profit institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Tribal institutions). We identified strategies for 102 (42%) IHEs. Using a sociocognitive approach to critical discourse analysis, we examined the specific messages conveyed via IHE risk reduction strategies, how larger sociocultural discourses and power structures were reproduced or reinforced, and the potential implications for readers (i.e., university students). Nearly all IHEs directed their strategies toward potential victims. These strategies were broad in scope, imploring behavioral modification and restriction (e.g., never be alone), and requiring specific responses to sexual assault (e.g., physical resistance). Fewer IHEs directed their strategies toward potential perpetrators; these strategies were narrower in scope, focusing on sexual consent. Overall, strategies reproduced rape myths (e.g., stranger-perpetrated assault is common) and positioned potential victims as uniquely responsible for preventing sexual assault—messaging that may be particularly harmful when disseminated by powerful institutions responsible for sexual assault prevention and response. IHEs should assess the utility of risk reduction strategies and, if retained, revise their strategies to counter harmful sexual assault messaging.

高等教育机构 (IHE) 经常传播旨在减少性侵犯受害和/或实施的风险降低策略。本研究考察了美国 4 年制 IHE 全国代表性样本提供的公开可用的风险降低策略的内容和背景（ N = 242；公立和私立非营利机构、传统黑人学院和大学，以及部落机构）。我们确定了 102 个 (42%) IHE 的策略。我们使用社会认知方法进行批判性话语分析，研究了通过 IHE 风险降低策略传达的具体信息、更大的社会文化话语和权力结构如何被复制或强化，以及对读者（即大学生）的潜在影响。几乎所有 IHE 都将其策略针对潜在受害者。这些策略范围广泛，要求行为改变和限制（例如，永远不要独处），并要求对性侵犯做出具体反应（例如，身体抵抗）。较少的 IHE 将其策略针对潜在的肇事者；这些策略的范围较窄，侧重于性同意。总体而言，这些策略再现了强奸神话（例如，陌生人实施的性侵犯很常见），并将潜在受害者定位为预防性侵犯的唯一责任——这些信息在由负责性侵犯预防和应对的强大机构传播时可能特别有害。 IHE 应评估风险降低策略的效用，如果保留，则修改其策略以应对有害的性侵犯信息。