A study of attitudes to rape in a non‐student British sample is reported. Ninety‐six subjects (64 male, 32 female) were presented with a newspaper rape account in which previous relationship between victim and rapist and victim status were manipulated. Respondents were divided into females, males with traditional attitudes to the female role, and males with progressive attitudes. Relationship and status had no effect on perceptions but consistent effects were found for sex of respondent and attitudes to the female r