Strikingly, federal data sources tracking the nature and extent of sexual assaults that occur aboard airlines are incomplete and typically not released to the public. In order to better understand this relatively hidden social phenomenon, we conducted a content analysis of media reports published over approximately a 20-year period (2000–2020). Within these media reports, we analyzed the incident characteristics of in-flight sexual assaults, reporting behaviors of victims, airline responses to victimization, and criminal justice processes such as adjudication. Findings reveal certain patterns in the coverage concerning victim and perpetrator characteristics, offense characteristics, flight information, and post-offense outcomes. In synthesizing study results, we apply tenets of routine activities theory (RAT) and the #MeToo perspective. We outline implications for future study and policy.

中文翻译：

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天空中性侵犯的性质和程度：照亮“黑匣子”

引人注目的是，追踪航空公司上发生的性侵犯的性质和程度的联邦数据来源不完整，通常不会向公众公布。为了更好地理解这种相对隐蔽的社会现象，我们对大约 20 年（2000-2020 年）发表的媒体报道进行了内容分析。在这些媒体报道中，我们分析了机上性侵犯的事件特征、受害者的举报行为、航空公司对受害的反应以及裁决等刑事司法程序。调查结果揭示了有关受害者和犯罪者特征、犯罪特征、飞行信息和犯罪后结果的报道中的某些模式。在综合研究结果时，我们应用日常活动理论 (RAT) 和#MeToo 观点的原则。