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.