Section topics: What is Rape?, Rape Myths, Statistics
Rape is a crime of humiliation and control, not sex. Like all types of sexual violence, rape violates a person’s trust and feeling of safety.
Sadly, it is common to blame the victim – for dressing in a sexual way, for having too much alcohol, for being out alone at night. But sexual violence is NEVER the victim’s fault, no matter when, where or how it happened. The only person to blame is the rapist.
Stranger Rape
- Only 22% of rapists are strangers to victims.
- Most rapes are planned.
- For victims, she/he may fear being alone or leaving home.
Acquaintance & Date Rape
- Victim knows the rapist.
- Most people are raped by someone they know – 78%.
- Assault may not be seen as rape by victim’s family and friends, leading to feelings of guilt.
- Date rapists rarely feel like they’ve done anything wrong.
- Acquaintance rape is most traumatic for those who are young and/or sexually inexperienced, leading poor self-esteem.
Marital Rape
- As recently as 1990, 26 states still treated some forms of marital rape as non-criminal.
- All 50 states today consider it a crime.
- Men who are physically abusive are often sexually abusive.
- Many women are raped when they are trying to leave or have left their husbands.
- Victims are more likely to suffer long-lasting physical and emotional injuries.
- Immigrant women are often threatened with deportation – their status may depend on their marital status.
Substance Related
- Drugs and alcohol reduces the ability of the victim to defend her or himself.
- Makes it difficult to remember the attack.
- Victims may feel guilty if they were using drugs or alcohol. Family may also blame victim.
Gang Rape
- Occurs most often by men in fraternities and collegiate athletics.
- Gang rape is a way for men to act out their anger towards women.
- In many gang rape situations, the rapists do not consider it rape but party behavior.
- Victim is seen as an object, not a person.
- Victims typically know some or all of the rapists.
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