NCJ Number
159710
Date Published
1993
Length
132 pages
Annotation
This manual is intended to help women become aware of the risks of rape, other sexual assault, and other personal crimes and to prevent these crimes by eliminating or reducing risks and responding appropriately if they occur.
Abstract
The volume opens with a brief quiz about the extent of rape, the characteristics of victims, victim-offender relationships, and rape reporting. The text notes that only one-tenth of sexual assaults are reported, that the psychological impacts can last a lifetime, that almost half of reported rapes occur in the home, that an automobile is also a common location for rape, and that women should take a proactive approach to preventing rape. Isolation and an uninterrupted period of time are the two factors essential for rape. Date rape accounts for half of all rapes. Approximately 55 percent of rapists regard women as objects of sexual gratification, 40 rape to express anger and hostility, and 5 percent are sadistic rapists. They should understand how a criminal thinks and acts; preventive measures to take at home, in the community, on public transportation, and when traveling; when to use passive resistance if attacked, and when to use active resistance. The discussion emphasizes that physically fighting back should be the last step when no other possibilities exist. Discussion of safety devices, photographs, illustrations, list of product sources, and 49 references